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i686.  1886. 


ALBANY 


BI-CENTENNIAL. 


Historical  Memoirs. 


A.    BLEECKER   BANKS, 

Chairman  Printing  Committee. 


1888. 

BANKS   &   BROTHERS, 

Albany  and  New  York. 


Charles  Van  Benthuysen  &  Sons, 

printers,  binders,  ic, 

Albany,  N.  Y. 


PREFACE. 


It  was  only  necessary  to  follow  the  different  statements  of 
the  Albany  daily  newspapers  to  make  the  compilation  of  the 
facts  and  give  the  data  of  Albany's  Bi-Centennary  Cele- 
bration. 

For  the  faithful  work  of  doing  this  and  the  preparing  of 
the  full  and  complete  index,  I  am  under  many  obligations 
to  Judge  Andrew  Hamilton. 

Thanks  are  due  to  the  ready  and  graceful  pen  of  Judge 
Franklin  M.  Danaher,  for  the  historical  review  of  the  Flags 
and  Seals  of  Albany,  the  Bi- Centennial  Medal  and  Bi-Cen- 
tennial  Card. 

A.  BLEECKER  BANKS. 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 


Organization  of  committee i-6 

Committee,  name  of 7 

Sub-committees 8-i  2 

Advisory  Committee i3>  14 

Former  celebrations i4>  1 5 

Meetings  of  Bi-Centennial 17-29 

Historical  Pageant  report 3o~39 

Appropriation  for  Historical  Pageant 39 

Meeting  of  Bi-Centennial,  continued 40-46 

Monumenting  and   Decorations 4^-55 

Bi-Centennial  Flag 5  7-61 

Meeting  of  Bi-Centennial  Committee,  continued,  61,  62 

Committee  on  Medals 63 

Order  of  Exercises 63-65 

Meetings  of  Bi-Centennial,  continued 66-69 

Opening  of  the  Bi-Centennial  Loan  Exhibition . .  69 

Chairman  King's  Introduction 71 

Rev,  Wesley  R.  Davis's  Prayer 71 

Mayor  Thacher's  Response 71 

William  D.  Morange's  Poem 73~7^ 

Leonard  Kip's  Oration 78-86 

Managers'  Loan  Exhibition 86-88 

Reception  of  Caughnawaga  Indians 88 

Mayor  Thacher's  Welcome 89,  90 

The  Celebration 91 

Devotional  Day 91 

Rabbi  Schlessinger's  Sermon 93-95 

V 


Sunday  Devotions 95~98 


Father  Walworth's  Sermon 98- 

Rev.  David  D.  Demorest 107— 

Union  services  at  St.  Peter's 

Bishop  Doane's  Sermon ^33- 

State  Street  Presbyterian  Church 

Rev.  Horace  C.  Stanton's  Sermon 155- 

First  Methodist  Church 

Rev.  Dr.  Mark  Trafton's  Sermon 168- 

Rev.  Merritt  Hubbard's  Sermon 170- 

First  Lutheran  Church 

Rev.  George  W.  Miller's  Discourse 178- 

Clinton  Square  Presbyterian  Church 

Rev.  Dr.  E.  A.  Huntington's  remarks 

State  Street  Presbyterian  Church 

Rev.  Dr.  Holmes'  Sermon 187, 


African  M.  E.  Church 188 

Rev.  Israel  Derrick's  Sermon 188,  189 

First  Reformed  Church 

Rev.  G.  Wilbur  Chapman's  Sermon 

Sixth  Presbyterian  Church 190 

Rev.  G.  D.  Countermine's  Sermon 190 

St.  Peter's  Church 190 

Walton  W.  Battershall's  Sermon 190,  191 

First  Methodist  Church 192 

Rev.  H.  A.  Starks'  Sermon 192 

Trinity  Episcopal  Church 192 

Rev.  Dr.  C.  H.  W.  Stocking's  Sermon 192,  193 

Other  services 193 

Monday,  July  19,  celebration 194- 

School  Children's  Festival 

Prayer  by  J.  Livingston  Reese 198,  199 

Historical  Tableau 199-202 

Award  of  Prizes 202 

The  winner  of  Girls'  Prize,  Elizabeth  G.  Davidson,  204 

vi 


04 
32 
32 

54 
54 
68 
68 

70 

78 
78 
86 
87 
87 
87 
88 


PAGE. 

The  winner  of  Boys'  Prize,  George  L.  Hodgson.  203 

Mayor  Thacher's  Address 205 

Prize  Essays 207 

Girls'  Prize 207-219 

Boys'  Prize 21 9-2  24 

Grand  Parade  of  Manufacturers 224 

Tradesmen  and  Mechanics 224-247 

Governor  David  B.  Hill  reviews 247 

Unveiling  of  the  Tablets 248 

Racing  Canoes 248-25 1 

The  Evening  Concert 251,  252 

Tuesday,  July  20,  Day  of  All  Nations 252 

Parade 252-271 

Reviewed  by  Governor  Hill 271,272 

Hugh  Reilly's  Oration 273-283 

German  exercises 284 

Planting  Memorial  Trees 284 

Address  by  Emmanuel  Labishina 285 

Exercises  by  Colored  Societies 286 

Mr.  T.  H.  S.  Pennington's  Address 286,  287 

Mr,  Robert  G.  Mclntyre's  Address 287,  288 

Scottish  Games 288 

The  Aquatic  Carnival 290-295 

Fraternal  Emblems 295 

Imposing  secret  organization 295-297 

Wednesday,  July  21,  Civic  Day 297-327 

Reception  of  the  Envoys  from  Holland .   298-301 

Dr.  Blom  Coster's  Address 299 

Mayor  Thacher's  Reply 300,  301 

The    Pageant 314-324 

Mystery  of  Momus 324 

High  Priest's  Address  (H.  C.  Staats) 324-326 

Thursday,  July  22,  Bi-Centennial  Day 327-394 

Exercises  at  the  Rink 340 

Prayer  by  Bishop   Doane 341 

vii 


PACE. 

Mayor  Thacher's  Address 342,  343 

The  Poem,  William  H.  McElroy 340-350 

The  Oration,  Governor  Hill 350-382 

Address,    President    Cleveland 382 

Address,  Secretary  Bayard 382,  383 

Address,  Secretary  Whitney 2^5 

Legislative    Reunion 383 

Municipal  Reception 387 

Reception    Fort  Orange  Club 389 

The   Guests 390-392 

The  Departure  of  the   President 392 

The  Pyrotechnic  Display 393,  394 

Subscribers  to  Bi-Centennial  Fund 395-400 

The  Flags  of  Albany 401-414 

The  City  Seals  of  Albany 415-422 

The  Bi-Centennial  Medal 423-426 

The  Bi-Centennial  Card 427-429 

The  Dongan  Charter 431-454 

General  Index , 455-461 


Vlll 


ALBANY'S 

Two-Hundredth    Anniversary. 
1886. 


T 


'HE  important  event  which  for  a  long  time 
had  been  uppermost  in  the  minds  of  the 
citizens  of  Albany,  received  its  first  official  notice  in 
the  resolution  offered  by  Alderman  James  Lyons,  on 
the  1 6th  day  of  November,  1885,  at  the  meeting 
of  the  Common  Council,  and  by  it  adopted  as  fol- 
follows : 

"  Whereas,  The  Two  Hundredth  anniversary  of 
Albany's  incorporation  as  a  city  will  occur  on  the 
22d  day  of  July,  1886,  an  occasion  of  great  historical 
importance  in  American  municipal  history,  and  of 
pride  to  Albany,  the  oldest  city  in  the  Union ;   and, 

"  Whereas,  It  is  proper  that  the  occasion  be  duly 
honored  and  celebrated ;   therefore,  be  it 


"  Resolved,  That  the  matter  of  the  celebration  of 
Albany's  bi-centennial  be  referred  to  the  Committee 
on  Public  Celebrations  and  Entertainments  of  this 
Board,  and  that  it  report  back  to  this  Board  its  views 
and  recommendations  in  the  premises  with  all  due 
speed." 

In  the  estimate  of  city  expenses  for  the  year  1886, 
in  the  annual  tax  budget,  as  first  submitted,  no 
amount  was  appropriated  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
the  celebration ;  but  as  finally  adopted,  it  set  it  well 
in  motion,  with  the  item  which  it  contained,  "  for 
celebrating  the  Bi-centennial  of  Albany,  $10,000." 

Following  this  came  the  Bi-Centennial  Proclama- 
tion by  the  Hon,  A.  Bleecker  Banks,  Mayor  of  the 
city  of  Albany,  and  which  was  concurred  in  by  the 
Committee  on  Public  Celebrations  of  the  Common 
Council. 

Bi-Centennial  Proclamation. 

The  two  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  incorporation 
of  the  city  of  Albany  will  occur  on  Thursday,  July  22, 
1886.  In  conformity  with  an  apparent  desire  on  the  part  of 
the  citizens  of  Albany  to  mark  this  bi-centennial  occasion 
with  public  demonstrations  expressive  of  their  pride  in  the 
honorable  history  of  our  city,  the  Common  Council,  with  the 
approval  of  the  Mayor,  caused  the  sum  of  $10,000  to  be 
placed  in  the  city  estimates  for  the  ensuing  year,  to  provide 
for  expenditures  attendant  upon  such  celebration. 

It  is  natural  to  suppose  that  the  public  interest  now  mani- 
fested will  become  intensified  as  the  bi-centennial  anniver- 
sary approaches.  It  will  be  perceived  that  the  observance 
of  that  day,  by  suitable  forms  of  public  rejoicing  is  justi- 
fied, not  only  in  consideration  of  the  past,  but  also  as 
tending  to  arouse  a  general  determination  to  achieve  that 
enlarged  prosperity  due  to  the  great  natural  advantages  of 
our  city.  We  shall  then  review  the  interesting  and  honor- 
able record  of  nearly  three  centuries  which  mark  the  dura- 


tion  of  our  history.  We  shall,  likewise,  demonstrate  our 
natural  and  artificial  resources  as  the  pledge  of  a  still  more 
glorious  future. 

The  Bi-centennial  occasion  will  foster  those  higher  senti- 
ments which  are  founded  upon  love  of  home  and  country. 
This  will  constitute  its  real  and  highest  value.  The  festivi- 
ties and  ceremonials  of  that  anniversary  will  promote  a 
stronger  sentiment  of  fraternity  among  our  people,  and  a 
broader  and  more  efficient  pulolic  spirit.  They  will  stimu- 
late a  disposition  to  charitable  forbearance  and  mutual 
helpfulness.  They  will  attach  our  hearts  more  firmly  to  this 
city  of  our  birth  and  of  our  adoption. 

For  these  reasons,  private  and  personal  interest  in  our 
approaching  anniversary  is  likely  even  to  surpass  in  the 
variety,  scope  and  magnitude  of  its  plans  those  which  may 
properly  be  contemplated  by  official  authority  alone. 

Therefore,  with  a  view  to  securing  proper  official  and 
private  co-operation  in  a  celebration  which  concerns  all  our 
people,  the  undersigned,  after  due  deliberation,  invite  the 
citizens  of  Albany,  and  especially  the  various  civic  and  mil- 
itary organizations,  by  authorized  representatives  and  other- 
wise, to  attend  a  public  meeting  at  the  Common  Council 
chamber  on  Wednesday,  January  6,  1886,  at  7  :  30  p.  m.,  to 
confer  upon  the  character  of  the  proposed  Bi-centennial  cele- 
bration, and  to  appoint  such  preliminary  committee  or  com- 
mittees as  they  shall  judge  proper,  in  order  to  report  a  plan 
of  organization  at  such  further  meeting  of  citizens  as  may 
be  deemed  necessary. 

Albany,  December  18,  1885. 

A.  Bleecker  Banks, 

Mayor. 
Galen  R.  Hitt, 
Patrick  McCann, 
Jeremiah  Kieley, 
James  Thornton, 
August  Whitman, 
Committee  on  Public  Celebrations. 

In  response  to  the  call  contained  in  this  proclama- 
tion, a  large  and  representative  gathering  of  citizens 
met  at  the  Common  Council  chamber  in  the  City 
Hall,  on  the  evening  of  January  6,  1886. 


Aldermen  Hitt,  McCann,  Thornton  and  Whit- 
man, of  the  Committee  on  PubHc  Celebrations,  were 
present. 

Among  the  prominent  citizens  noticed  in  the  audi- 
ence were  Mayor  A.  B.  Banks,  Senator  Amasa  J.  Par- 
ker, Jr.,  Recorder  Anthony  Gould,  Supervisor  Robert 
Geer,  Surrogate  Francis  H.  Woods,  Deputy  County 
Clerk  Thos.  Dolan,  Judge  F.  M.  Danaher,  ex-Senator 
Thacher,  ex-Alderman  Gorman,  ex-Alderman  W.  H. 
Dey  Ermand,  Prof.  Lewis  Boss,  Prof.  George  E.  Oli- 
ver, Grange  Sard,  Daniel  W.  Wemple,  Col.  Frank 
Chamberlain,  Clinton  Ten  Eyck,  William  H.  Haskell, 
Walter  Dickson,  Col.  Wm.  E.  Fitch,  C.  E.  Wolf, 
Wm.  M.  Whitney,  Wm.  M.  Whitney,  Jr.,  Clerk  Mar- 
tin Delehanty,  City  Marshal  Higgins,  Thomas  F. 
Wilkinson,  James  W.  Eaton,  Monroe  Crannell,  W.  W. 
Crannell,  J.  L.  Van  Valkenburgh,  H.  L.  Gladding, 
Israel  Nussbaum,  Hugh  Reilly,  Robert  H.  Waterman 
and  many  others. 

LOCAL   ORGANIZATIONS    REPRESENTED. 

The  following  gentlemen  signified  their  presence 
as  representatives  of  local  organizations :  Captain 
Oscar  Smith,  the  Burgesses  Corps ;  Adjutant  Norton 
Chase,  the  Tenth  Battalion ;  President  I.  D.  F.  Lan- 
sing, the  Young  Men's  Association ;  Peter  Kinnear, 
St.  Andrew's  and  the  Caledonian  Societies ;  A.  D. 
Cole,  the  Masonic  fraternity ;  Andrew  Donner,  the 
Holland  Association;  A.  H.  Spierre,  Post  No.  121, 
G.  A.  R. ;  Prof.  Charles  Cole,  the  public  schools  of 
the  city. 

Alderman  Hitt  called  the  meeting  to  order  and 
briefly  reviewed  the  history  of  the  movement.     He 


said  that  no  suggestion  had  met  with  so  general  an 
approval  as  that  for  a  proper  celebration  of  the  city's 
Bi-centennial  anniversary.  On  motion,  Mayor  Banks 
was  chosen  Chairman  and  briefly  stated  the  objects 
of  the  meeting,  and  Mr.  Grange  Sard  was  chosen 
Secretary.  At  the  suggestion  of  the  Chairman,  Mr. 
J.  V.  Viggers  read  the  following  excerpt  from  the  city 
records  concerning  the  action  of  the  City  Council  in 
1776,  when  John  I.  Beekman  was  Mayor,  for  the  cel- 
ebration of  the  city's  looth  anniversary: 

ONE   HUNDRED   YEARS   AGO. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  22d  instant,  being  the  jubi- 
lee of  the  charter  of  this  city,  be  commemorated  by 
a  public  feast  at  the  City  Hall ;  that  a  committee  of 
five  be  appointed  to  procure  the  materials  necessary, 
and  to  regulate  the  same.  The  committee  appointed 
were  Alderman  Philip  Van  Rensselaer,  Peter  W, 
Yates,  and  Assistants  John  W.  Wendell,  Richard 
Lash  and  Jellis  Winne. 

THE   ANCIENT   COMMITTEE'S    REPORT. 

"  The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  mode 
of  celebrating  the  22d  of  July  instant,  being  the  cen- 
tury anniversary  of  this  city,  do  report  that  in  their 
opinion  the  Common  Council  convene  in  the  fore- 
noon of  that  day,  at  10  o'clock,  at  the  City  Hall,  and 
from  thence  proceed  in  procession  to  the  hill  west- 
ward of  the  city,  attended  by  such  citizens  as  shall 
choose ;  that  during  the  procession  all  the  bells  of 
the  several  churches  in  this  city  shall  ring,  and  at  the 
place  assigned  for  the  purpose  on  the  hill,  thirteen 

5 


toasts  and  one  for  the  charter  under  the  discharge  of 
fourteen  cannon. 


A   BARREL   OF   GOOD    SPIRITS. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  former  committee  be  a  com- 
mittee to  prepare  and  superintend  the  said  business, 
who  are  to  purchase  a  barrel  of  good  spirits  for  the 
purpose ;  that  the  order  of  procession  be  as  follows, 
viz. :  The  High  Sheriff,  the  Under  Sheriff,  the  Con- 
stables with  their  staffs,  the  Mayor  and  Recorder,  the 
Aldermen,  the  Common  Council,  the  Chamberlain 
and  clerks,  the  Marshal,  the  corporations  of  the  sev- 
eral churches,  the  Judges  of  the  several  courts,  the 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  the  Members  of  the  Legisla- 
ture and  Attorneys-at-Law,  the  militia  officers,  the 
engine  and  fire  company,  the  citizens  at  large." 

Hon.  F.  M.  Danaher  then  offered  the  following 
resolution,  which  was  adopted,  after  which  the  meet- 
ing adjourned : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  chairman  appoint  a  repre- 
sentative committee  of  twenty-five  citizens,  of  which 
the  Mayor  shall  be  chairman,  to  act  in  conjunction  and 
in  harmony  with  the  Common  Council  Committee  on 
Public  Celebrations,  to  consider  the  question  of  the 
proper  celebration  of  the  bi-centennial  anniversary  of 
the  city  and  carry  the  same  into  effect ;  and  that 
Mayor  Banks  continue  as  chairman  of  the  committee 
until  the  matter  is  entirely  disposed  of" 

Pursuant  to  this  resolution,  the  following  gentle- 
men were  named  and  served  as  members  of  the  Citi- 
zens' Bi-Centennial  Committee : 


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A.  Bleecker 
Robert  Lenox  Banks, 
Lewis  Boss, 
Anthony  N.  Brady, 
Walter  Dickson, 
Franklin  M.  Danaher, 
Douw  H.  Fonda, 
Charles  E.  Jones, 
Rufus  H.  King, 
J.  Townsend  Lansing, 
James  H.  Manning, 
Archibald  McClure, 
Edward  J.  Meegan, 
John  C.  Nott, 


Banks,  Chairman. 
Michael  N.  Nolan, 
Amasa  J.  Parker,  Jr., 
Robert  C.  Pruyn, 
John  H.  Quinby, 
Simon  W.  Rosendale, 
Samuel  B.  Towner, 
Wm.  B,  Van  Rensselaer, 
John  L.  Van  Valkenburgh, 
Daniel  W.  Wemple, 
William  M.  Whitney, 
Robert  D.  Williams, 
Horace  G.  Young, 
John  Zimmerman. 


Galen  R.  Hitt, 
Patrick  McCann, 
Jeremiah  Kieley, 
James  Thornton, 


Aldermen : 

August  Whitman, 
John  J.  Greagan, 
David  J.  Norton, 
George  L.  Thomas, 


James  O.  Woodward. 


Extracts  from  the  Minutes  of  Proceedings  of 

THE    BI-CeNTENNIAL    COMMITTEE. 


On  January  23,  1886,  at  a  meeting  held  at  the 
Mayor's  office,  the  committee  effected  its  organi- 
zation. Mayor  Banks  was  chosen  Chairman ;  Mr. 
Robert  D.  Williams,  Recording  Secretary,  and  Mr. 
James  H.  Manning,  Corresponding  Secretary.  An 
invitation  was  extended  to  the  various  civic,  military 
and  other  organizations  of  the  city  to  each  send  one 
delegate  to  form  an  advisory  committee.  The  Mayor 
was  empowered  to  designate  such  sub-committees  as 
he  should  deem  advisable,  including  one  to  select  the 
orator,  the  poet,  and  the  historian  of  the  celebration. 


The  committee  again  met  January  30,  1886,  when  Mr. 
Daniel  W.  Wemple  was  chosen  Treasurer.  Weekly- 
meetings  were  ordered  to  be  held  on  each  Thursday 
evening.  A  communication  from  Mr.  F.  C.  De 
Leon,  Mobile,  Ala.,  a  gentleman  of  large  experience 
in  the  preparation  of  pageants  in  southern  cities,  was 
received,  offering  his  services.  The  first  subscription 
accompanied  the  following  letter : 

Albany,  N.  Y.,  January  26,  1886. 
Hon.  A.  Bleecker  Banks, 

Mayor  and  Chairman  Bi-centennial  Committee: 
Dear  Sir — I  am  authorized  by  a  vote  of  the  Al- 
bany Burgesses  Corps  to  and  hereby  send  you  a  sub- 
scription of  one  hundred  dollars  towards  the  fund  for 
celebrating  the  Bi-centennial  of  our  city. 
With  respect, 

Yours,  etc., 

Henry  Haskell, 

Treasurer,  A.  B.C. 

The  question  of  formulating  the  plan  of  the  cele- 
bration was  referred  to  the  executive  committee  when 
appointed  for  their  report. 

February  4,  1886.  The  various  sub-committees 
were  announced  by  the  chairman  and,  as  subse- 
quently changed  and  increased,  were  as  follows : 

Executive  Committee. 

A.  Bleecker  Banks,  Chairman. 
Robert  D.  Williams,  Sec'y.  Walter  Dickson, 
John  Boyd  Thacher,  Simon  W.  Rosendale, 

Charles  E.  Jones,  Eranklin  M.  Danaher, 

Edward  J.  Meegan,  Daniel  W.  Wemple, 

Amasa  J.  Parker,  Jr.,  Archibald  McClure, 


Daniel  W.  Wemple,  Treas. 
Douw  H.  Fonda, 
Galen  R.  Hitt, 
Patrick  McCann, 
Jeremiah  Kieley, 

James  O. 


James  Thornton, 
August  Whitman, 
John  J.  Greagan, 
George  L.  Thomas, 
David  J.  Norton, 
Woodward. 


Finance  Committee. 

William  M.  Whitney,  Chairman. 
Rufus  H.  King,  Horace  G.  Young, 

Michael  N.  Nolan,  John  H.  Quinby, 

Robert  C.  Pruyn,  J.  L.  Van  Valkenburgh, 

Anthony  N.  Brady,  Patrick  McCann, 

J.  Townsend  Lansing,  Daniel  W.  Wemple, 

Robert  D.  Williams,  David  J.  Norton. 


FROM    ADVISORY   COMMITTEE. 


Myron  A.  Cooney, 
John  A.  Sleicher, 
T.  C.  Callicott, 
Myron  H.  Rooker, 


S.  N.  D.  North, 
Fred'k  W.  White, 
R.  M.  Griffin, 
E.  Miggael. 


Reception  Committee. 

Robert  Lenox  Banks,  Chairman. 
Lewis  Boss,  Samuel  B.  Towner, 

Archibald  McClure,  James  H.  Manning, 

John  Zimmerman,  Wm.  B.  Van  Rensselaer, 

John  C.  Nott,  August  Whitman, 

Robert  D.  Williams,  James  O.  Woodward. 

Bi-Centennial  Loan  Commission. 


J.  Howard  King,  President. 
Henry  J.  Ten  Eyck,  Sec'y. 
Samuel  B.  Towner, 
Wm.  B.  Van  Rensselaer, 
John  C.  Nott, 
J.  L.  Van  Valkenburgh, 
Robert  D.  Williams, 
John   Boyd  Thacher, 
Charles  Tracey, 
Robert  S.  Oliver, 


James  T.  Gardiner,  Vice-Pres. 

Ledyard  Cogswell,  Treasurer. 

W.  O.  Stillman, 

Seidell  E.  Marvin, 

George  D.  Miller, 

Charles  V.  Winne, 

Robert  C.  Pruyn, 

J.  Townsend  Lansing, 

Lewis  Boss, 

Douw  H.  Fonda, 


John  Zimmerman. 


Committee  on  Historical  Pageant. 

Lewis  Boss,  Chairman. 
Walter  Dickson,  Wm.  B.  Van  Rensselaer, 

James  H,  Manning,  J.  L.  Van  Valkenburgh. 

Committee  on  Regatta. 

Anthony  N.  Brady,  Chairman. 
Simon  W.  Rosendale,  Charles  E.  Jones, 

George  L.  Thomas,  Patrick  McCann. 

FROM    ADVISORY  COMMITTEE. 

Henry  W.  Garfield,  Charles  Piepenbrink, 

Joseph  H.  Girvin,  Secretary. 

Committee  on  Military  Parade. 

Amasa  J.  Parker,  Jr.,  Chainnan. 
James  H.  Manning,  Franklin  M.  Danaher, 

J.  L.  Van  Valkenburgh,  John  C,  Nott, 

George  L.  Thomas. 

FROM   ADVISORY    COMMITTEE. 

Gen.  J.  G.  Farnsworth,  Maj.  G.  H.  Treadwell, 

Gen.  Robert  S.  Oliver,  Col.  George  Krank, 

Maj.  James  Macfarlane,  Capt.  Oscar  Smith, 

Maj.  Chas.  E.  Van  Zandt. 

Committee  on  Civic  Parade. 

John   H.  Quinby,  Chairman. 
Daniel  W.  Wemple,  Jeremiah  Kieley, 

Horace  G.  Young,  August  Whitman. 

FROM   advisory    COMMITTEE. 

Edward  A.  Durant,  Jr.,  Emanuel  Eabishiner, 

John  M.  Bailey,  John  Palmer, 

Peter  Lasch,  Jacob  C.  Cuyler, 

Wilham  K.  Clute,  William  F.  Beutler, 

Henry  W.  Garfield,  Harmon  P.  Read, 

A.  McD.  Shoemaker,  Samuel  C.  Harris, 
Herman  H.  Russ,  Jr. 

Committee  on  Educational   Day. 

A.  Bleecker  Banks,  Chairman. 
John  Boyd  Thacher,  Wm.  B.  Van  Rensselaer, 

Amasa  J.  Parker,  Jr.,  Lewis  Boss. 


lO 


FROM    BOARD    OF    PUBLIC    INSTRUCTION. 

Oren  E.  Wilson,  Charles  W.  Cole. 

Committee  on  Trades'  Parade. 

Patrick  McCann,  Chairman.   Douw  H.  Fonda,  Secretary. 
J.  Townsend  Lansing,  David  J.  Norton. 

FROM    ADVISORY   COMMITTEE. 

Vreeland  H.  Youngman,         P.  J.  Doyle, 
John  Wolf,  A.  S.  Richards, 

William  H.  Coughtry,  William  Van  Amburgh. 

Committee  on  All  Nations'  Day. 

Peter  Kinnear,  Chainnan.  Michael  N.  Nolan, 

J.  Townsend  Lansing,  Edward  J.  Meegan, 

Wm.  B.  Van  Rensselaer,  John  Zimmerman, 

Robert  C.  Pruyn,  John  J.  Greagan. 

FROM    ADVISORY   COMMITTEE. 

Mathias  Bissikummer,  Samuel  H.  Mando, 

Max  Kurth,  Peter  Lasch, 

Emanuel  Labishiner,  Andrew  Donner, 

John  Brannigan,  Edward  Ogden, 

John  Thompson,  Jr..  Adolph  Picard, 

Attillio  Pasquini,  James  H.  Hannigan, 

Henry  Martin,  John  J.  Walsh, 

John  J.  Riley,  Thomas  S.  O'Brien, 

Michael  J.  Slattery,  David  Healy, 
James  McFarlane. 

Committee  on  Fireworks. 

Wm.  M,  Whitney,  Chairman.  Edward  J.  Meegan, 
Rufus  H.  King,  George  L.  Thomas. 

FROM   ADVISORY   COMMITTEE. 

Peter  Kinnear,  Mathias  Bissikummer, 

Samuel  C.  Harris. 

Committee  on  Decorations  and  Monumenting. 

Walter  Dickson,  Chairman. 
Charles  E.  Jones,  Samuel  B.  Towner. 

FROM    ADVISORY   COMMI'JTEE. 

Leonard  Kip,  Harmon  P.  Read, 

Wheeler  B.  Mehus,  George  R.  Howell. 

II 


Committee  on  Music. 

Daniel  W.  Wemple,  Chairman. 
James  H.  Manning,  Robert  D.  Williams. 

Committee  on  Orator,  Historian  and  Poet. 

A.  Bleecker  Banks,  Chaimian. 
John  Boyd  Thacher,  Amasa  J.  Parker,  Jr., 

Lewis  Boss,  Wm.  Bayard  Van  Rensselaer. 

Committee  on  Bi-Centennial  Flag  and  Medal. 

Franklin  M.  Danaher,  Chairman. 
William  M.  Whitney,  Walter  Dickson, 

Archibald  McClure,  James  H.  Manning. 

Auditing  Board. 

A.  Bleecker  Banks,  Archibald  McClure, 

Robert  D.  Williams. 

Printing  Committee. 

A.  Bleecker  Banks,  Chairman.  Daniel  W.  Wemple, 
Simon  W.  Rosendale,  J.  O.  Woodward, 

E.  J.  Meegan,  Robert  D.  Williams. 

Press  Committee. 

James  H.  Manning,  Chairman. 
Myron  A.  Cooney,  Theophilus  C.  Callicott, 

John  A.  Sleicher,  Eugene  T.  Chamberlain, 

Myron  H.  Rooker,  Richard  M.  Griffin, 

S.  N.  D.  North,  Edward  Miggael, 

Frederick  W.  White,  Desmond  S.  I.amb. 


Bureau  of  Information  and  Accommodation. 

480    Broadway,  near  Maiden  lane. 

John  Boyd  Thacher,  Chaiman. 

Robert  D.  Williams, 

James  H.  Manning, 

Daniel  W.  Wemple, 

W.  S.  McKean,  Chief  of  Bureau. 

12 


Advisory  Committee. 


DELEGATES   NAMED   BY   THEIR   SEVERAL  ORGANIZATIONS. 


Addington,  George 
Ames,  F.  Le  Grand 
Andrews,  Arthur  L. 
Auer,  Louis 
Bailey,  John  M. 
Bender,  Louis 
Beutler,  WiUiam  F. 
Bissikummer,  M. 
Brady,  John  T. 
Branigan,  John 
Biichs,  John 
Burdick,  J.  W. 
CaUicott,  T.  C. 
Chamberlain,  E.  T. 
Clute,  William  K. 
Cole,  A.  D. 
Cole,  Charles  W. 
Cooney,  M.  A. 
Coughtry,  WiUiam  H. 
Cummings,  J.  G. 
Cuyler,  J.  C. 
Dederick,  P.  J. 
De  Witt,  R.  V. 
Donner,  Andrew 
Douge,  J.  A. 
Doyle,  John 
Doyle,  P.  J. 
Dulin,  James  F. 
Durant,  Jr.,  E.  A. 
Elkins,  Thomas 
Farnsworth,  J.  G. 
Fisher,  Fred.  W. 
Fitch,  William  E. 
Flannigan,  J.  J. 
Friedman,  J.  S. 
Froehlich,  Frank 
Gabler,  F. 
Gardiner,  James  H. 
Garfield,  H.  W. 
Girvin,  Joseph  H. 


Gray,  James 
Greig,  C.  N. 
Griffin,  M. 
Guardeneer,  G.  H. 
Haak,  John 
Hacker,  W. 
Haiss,  Eugene 
Hale,  Matthew 
Harris,  S.  C. 
Haucmann,  C. 
Healy,  David 
Henzel,  H. 
Hinkle,  C. 
Hoffinan,  Henry 
Hunter,  J.  H. 
Jennings,  William  H. 
Kampfer,  Frank 
Kane,  WiUiam  J. 
Kenel,  Victor 
Kessler,  August. 
Kiernan,  A.  B. 
Kies,  Henry 
Kinnear,  Peter 
Kip,  Leonard 
Krank,  George 
Kundel,  P.  F. 
Kurth,  Max 
Labishiner,  E. 
Lange,  F. 
Lansing,  L  D.  F. 
La  Preze,  Joseph 
Lasch,  Peter 
Louden,  M.  J. 
Macfarlane,  James 
Mando,  S.  H. 
Manning,  T.  J. 
Martin,  Henry 
Mattimore,  P.  F. 
McCabe,  J.  F. 
McCarthy,  F. 


13 


McDonald,  J. 
McFarlane,  James 
McGowan,  M.  F. 
McGraw,  John 
McNaughton,  William  H. 
Meade,  I.ouis 
Melius,  W.  B. 
Miggael,  A. 
Mills,  F.  W. 
Moran,  J.  J. 
Morrell,  F.  D. 
Murphy,  P.   H. 
Neil,  Jr.,  John 
Niblock,  John 
North,  S.  N.  D. 
O'Brien,  James 
O'Brien,  Thomas  S. 
O'Byrne,  J.  J. 
Ogden,  Edward 
Oliver,  Robert  S. 
Oppenheim,  W.  L. 
Palmer,  John 
Pareira,  A. 
Pasquini,  Attilio 
Pender,  James  J. 
Picard,  Adolph 
Piepenbrink,  Charles 
Pierson,  D.  A. 
Pierson,  H.  R. 
Pratt,  L.  W. 
Read,  H.  P. 
Reilly,  J.  J. 
Richards,  A.  S. 
Riley,  J.  H.  J. 


Roberts,  C.  J. 
Rogers,  Francis 
Ronan,  D.  A. 
Rooker,  Myron  H. 
Rowe,  M.  L. 
Ruso,  James  M. 
Russ,  Jr.,  H.  H. 
Sarauw,  F.  W. 
Sausbier,  William 
Severance,  M.  J. 
Shattuck,  James 
Shoemaker,  A.  McD. 
Sickles,  H.  E. 
Slattery,  M.  J. 
Sleicher,  John  A. 
Smith,  H.  F. 
Smith,  Oscar 
Sonnenfield,  T. 
Strain,  Alex. 
Thacher,  Jr.,  George  H. 
Thomson,  Jr.,  John 
Treadwell,  George  H. 
Upjohn,  J.  W. 
Van  Amburgh,  William 
Van  Valkenburgh,  J.  W 
Walsh,  John  W. 
Warner,  James  M. 
Weyrick,  Fred. 
White,  F.  W. 
Wolf,  John 
Yorke,  Joseph  W. 
Young,  Matthew 
Youngman,  V.  H. 


Former  Celebrations. 

At  this  meeting  Prof.  Lewis  Boss  stated  that  he 
had  taken  pains  to  learn  some  of  the  notable  cele- 
brations that  had  taken  place  before  in  Albany,  and 
read  a  very  interesting  account  of  them,  of  which  the 
following  is  an  abstract : 


14 


The  most  notable  of  Albany's  celebrations  were, 
July  22,  1786,  centennial  of  Albany  city  charter; 
August  8,  1788,  celebration  of  the  ratification  of  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  by  the  State  of 
New  York;  October  8,  1823,  passage  of  the  first 
boat  from  the  Erie  canal  into  the  Hudson  river ;  No- 
vember 2,  1825,  celebration  of  formal  opening  of  the 
Erie  canal,  when  the  first  boat  came  through  from 
Buffalo.  Prof.  Boss  thought  the  best  of  these,  and 
the  one  which  the  coming  event  should  be  most  like, 
was  that  of  1788.  Twenty  days  after  the  celebration 
a  full  page  account  of  it  was  published  in  the  "Albany 
Gazette."  From  this  account  Prof.  Boss  had  made 
many  memoranda.  A  citizens  committee  had  charge 
of  the  arrangements.  The  line,  made  up  of  various 
trades  and  military,  formed  in  the  fields  near  Water- 
vliet.  Portable  shops  were  arranged  on  vehicles,  and 
the  various  industries  were  represented  during  the 
march.  The  Constitution,  engrossed  on  parchment, 
suspended  on  a  staff,  was  carried  by  Major-General 
Schuyler,  while  John  H.  Wendell  bore  the  standard 
of  the  United  States,  and  eleven  ancient  citizens 
walked  near  by.  An  elegant  plow  was  guarded  by 
Stephen  Van  Rensselaer.  The  State  standard  was 
carried  by  Major  John  I.  P.  Ten  Eyck.  To  the  west 
of  Fort  Frederick  a  Federal  bower  fifteen  by  forty- 
four  feet  was  erected,  and  in  this  all  the  participants 
in  the  parade  were  fed.  The  march  was  resumed 
after  the  dinner  and  took  its  way  to  the  spacious  pas- 
tures south  of  Fort  Orange,  where  it  was  dismissed. 
One  feature  of  the  parade,  quoting  from  the  "  Ga- 
zette," was : 


15 


"'A  bateau,  elegantly  painted  and  decorated,  on  a 
carriage  drawn  by  two  gray  horses,  neatly  capari- 
soned, loaded  with  goods  proper  for  the  Indian  trade, 
navigated  by  a  proper  number  of  bateaumen,  fur- 
nished with  setting  poles,  paddles,  etc.,  which  were 
used  with  great  skill  during  the  procession,  Mr. 
Gerardous  Lansing,  in  the  character  of  a  trader  and 
an  Indian  properly  dressed  and  ornamented,  sitting 
in  the  stern.'  During  the  time  of  the  repast,  the  ba- 
teau made  a  voyage  toward  the  Mohawk  country  and 
returned  with  a  full  cargo  of  peltry.  The  Federal 
bower  made  an  highly  elegant  appearance.  It  was 
erected  on  the  most  advantageous  parts  of  the  heights 
west  of  Fort  Frederick,  commanding  the  most  ex- 
tended prospects  of  any  situation  near  the  city ;  and 
when  the  flags  of  the  respective  divisions  were  dis- 
played on  its  battlements,  that  of  the  United  States 
on  the  centre,  that  of  the  State  on  the  right,  and  the 
farmers  on  the  left,  the  coup  d'oeil  was  extremely 
pleasing.  The  edifice  was  one  hundred  and  fifty-four 
feet  in  length  and  forty-four  feet  in  breadth,  and  was 
raised  upon  four  rows  of  pillars,  fifteen  feet  in  height, 
which  were  closely  wreathed  with  foliage,  and  com- 
posed eleven  arches  in  front.  The  company  was 
*  marched  off  in  regular  divisions  to  the  tables  which 
were  plentifully  covered  with  substantial  American 
cheer.'  The  tables  were  eleven  in  number  placed 
across  the  colonnade  parallel  with  the  eleven  arches. 
They  were  by  no  means  sufficient  for  the  company, 
which,  in  its  extent,  far  exceeded  the  expectations 
of  the  warmest  favorers  of  the  procession.  Yet,  so 
lively  was  the  pleasurable  spirit  of  accommodation, 


i6 


so  general  was  the  wish  of  diffuse  satisfaction,  that  no 
inconvenience  was  felt  or  complained  of  by  any." 

February  lo,  1886.  The  Schubert  Club  tendered 
their  services  for  the  celebration.  The  Aldermen 
constituting  the  Committee  of  the  Common  Council 
on  Public  Celebrations  were  added  to  the  Executive 
Committee. 

February  18,  1886.  James  V.  Viggers  was  ap- 
pointed as  assistant  to  both  secretaries  at  a  salary 
of  two  hundred  dollars.  The  Executive  Committee 
reported  the  following  recommendations  :  That  six 
days  be  devoted  to  the  celebration ;  that  Sunday 
preceding  the  anniversary  be  observed  in  the  various 
churches  with  all  such  exercises  as  might  seem 
proper ;  that  Monday  be  devoted  to  the  celebration 
of  all  the  schools  under  the  direction  and  manage- 
ment of  the  Board  of  Public  Instruction,  and  that 
Tuesday  be  assigned  as  a  day  for  the  various  nation- 
alities to  have  such  celebration  as  they  might  decide 
upon.  The  report  was  unanimously  accepted  and 
further  time  granted  the  committee  in  which  to  per- 
fect their  programme.  It  was  also  resolved  :  That  a 
committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  consider  the  ad- 
visability of  holding,  previous  to  and  during  the  Bi- 
centennial celebration,  a  loan  exhibition  of  antiqui- 
ties and  articles  of  historical  and  local  interest. 

At  the  meeting  of  March  4,  1886,  the  following 
communication  was  received  : 

Albany,  N.  Y.,  March  i,  1886. 
President  of  the  Bi-Centennial  Commission  : 

Dear  Sir — A  number  of  gentlemen,  among  whom  are 
Messrs.  J.  Howard  King,  Robert  C.  Pruyn,  Dudley  Olcott, 

17 


John  G.  Myers,  J.  Townsend  Lansing,  W.  Bayard  Van 
Rensselaer,  John  E.  McEhoy,  John  Boyd  Thacher,  W.  O. 
Stillwell,  James  T.  Gardiner,  Henry  Russell,  George  D. 
Fearey,  Ledyard  Cogswell,  James  B.  Jermain,  Geo.  D. 
Miller  and  Frederick  I).  Mather,  having  joined  togedier  to 
form  a  Colonial  Loan  Commission  for  the  purpose  of  hold- 
ing an  exhibition  of  objects  of  colonial  interest  during  the 
Bi-centennial  celebration,  and,  desiring  to  get  in  conjunc- 
tion with  the  Bi-centennial  Committee,  have  appointed  Mr. 
George  D.  Fearey  as  a  member  of  the  Bi- centennial  Advis 
ory  Committee  and  would  respectfully  suggest  the  appoint- 
ment of  three  members  of  the  Loan  Commission. 

The  expenditure  of  moneys  was  directed  to  be 
made  only  by  a  vote  of  at  least  fifteen  members  of 
the  committee.  The  Executive  Committee  submit- 
ted their  detailed  programme  of  the  celebration  as 
follows : 

1686  —  Bi-Centennial —  1886. 
report  of  the  executive  committee. 

Albany,  March  4,  1886. 
To  THE  Citizens'  Committee: 

The  Executive  Committee  who  were  directed  to 
report  and  prepare  a  plan  of  the  celebration  of  Al- 
bany's Bi-centennial,  based  upon  a  resolution  that 
the  celebration  was  to  begin  on  Sunday  and  end  on 
Friday  night  of  the  week  in  which  the  anniversary 
occurs,  do  report  as  follows :  The  report  presenting 
nothing  but  the  salient  features,  the  details  and  par- 
ticular character  of  the  matters  proposed  to  be  fur- 
ther considered  and  reported  upon  by  the  various 
sub-committees  to  be  appointed. 

Sunday,  July   18. 
To  be  a  day  of  general  religious  observance,  with 
special    memorial  and    historical  sermons  and    exer- 

18 


cises,  appropriate  to  the  occasion  in  all  the  churches 
in  the  city,  at  such  hours  as  best  suits  the  conven- 
ience of  each. 

It  is  recommended  that  the  sermons  be  based  upon 
the  history  of  the  churches  in  which  they  are  respect- 
ively delivered  with  special  reference  to  their  devel- 
opment and  growth  in  Albany,  and  that  by  invitation 
the  pulpits  be  thrown  open  to  distinguished  divines, 
either  born  in  Albany,  or  who,  at  some  time  in  their 
ministerial  careers,  officiated  here. 

The  sermons  to  be  printed  in  a  memorial  volume, 
if  any  such  be  published. 

Monday,  July  19 — Educational  Day. 

The  school  children  of  Albany  to  assemble  in  some 
public  place  for  exercises,  singing,  recitations  and 
addresses.  The  programme  to  be  reported  by  the 
committee  appointed  to  act  in  the  matter  with  the 
Board  of  Public  Instruction. 

Historic  spots  to  be  monumented  and  addresses, 
germane  to  the  occasion,  delivered  at  each  place 
marked. 

Tuesday,  July  20 — The  Day  of  All  Nations. 

The  day  to  be  set  apart  for  national  sports,  exer- 
cises and  observances ;  the  same  to  be  under  the  di- 
rection and  control  of  the  German,  Irish,  English, 
Scotch,  French,  Italian,  Holland  and  other  national 
societies,  in  such  manner  and  form  as  they  may  de- 
termine and  in  such  places  as  they  may  select. 

In  the  Afternoon  :  A  regatta,  amateur  and  pro- 
fessional, over  the  Island  course  subject  to  the  action 

19 


of  the  railroad,  steamboat  and  Island  authorities.     A 
yacht  race  in  front  of  the  city. 

In  the  Night:  A  river  parade  of  illuminated  and 
decorated  steamboats,  with  music  and  fire-work  ac- 
companiments. 

Wednesday,  July  21 — Civic  Day. 

Sunrise  :  The  day  to  be  ushered  in  at  sunrise  by 
a  national  salute  of  thirty-eight  guns. 

10  A.  M. :  Grand  parade  of  all  civic  bodies  and  fire- 
men's tournament.  The  national  societies,  Knights 
Templars,  uniformed  Odd  Fellows,  uniformed  Knights 
of  Pythias,  singing  societies,  Albany's  Fire  Depart- 
ment, exempt  firemen,  visiting  fire  companies,  etc. 

Afternoon  :  Continuation  of  and  second  day  of 
the  regatta.  Grand  canoeing  tournament  in  front  of 
city. 

At  Night:  A  grand  historical  pageant,  under 
calcium  and  electric  light  and  colored  fires,  showing 
the  contrasts  of  the  past  with  the  present — the  growth 
of  two  centuries — and  placing  before  the  people,  in 
living  tableaux,  the  historical  events  and  great  men 
in  Albany's  romantic  Colonial  and  Revolutionary 
history.  The  floats  to  be  manned  and  provided, 
under  the  direction  of  the  sub-committee,  by  the 
various  national  and  fraternal  societies  or  military 
companies  ;  or  a  grand  torchlight  procession  with  his- 
torical features  of  firemen,  political  and  fraternal  or- 
ganizations. After  parading,  to  mass  in  State  street, 
at  12  o'clock,  midnight,  when,  amid  the  huzzas  of 
the  people,  a  shower  of  rockets,  bombs  and  Roman 
candles,  the  ringing  of  the  bells  of  all  the  churches, 
the  blowing  of  whistles,  and  the  singing  of  the  Na- 

20 


tional  anthem  by  the  people,  to  usher  in  the  anniver- 
sary day. 

It  is  recommended  that  the  citizens  decorate  their 
houses  and  places  of  business  for  the  week,  and  illu- 
minate them  on  Wednesday  night. 

Thursday,  July  22 — Bi-Centennial  Day. 

12  P.  M. :     As  before. 

Sunrise:  A  Bi-centennial  salute  of  two  hundred 
guns  to  be  fired,  fifty  guns  at  four  different  places  in 
the  city. 

In  the  Morning  :  A  grand  military  procession, 
as  escort  to  orator,  poet,  city  guests,  etc.,  to  place  of 
Bi-centennial  exercises. 

Bi-Centennial  Exercises  :  Music,  invocation, 
singing,  poems,  orations,  addresses,  etc. 

Night:  Fire-works,  also  municipal  reception  to 
distinguished  guests,  orators,  poet,  etc. 

Friday  ,  July  23 — Trades  and  Manufactures. 

A  grand  parade  of  all  the  Trades'  Unions,  Trades' 
Assemblies  and  Knights  of  Labor,  manufacturing  and 
business  interests ;  Grocers'  and  Butchers'  Associa- 
tion ;  butchers,  with  decorated  prize  cattle  ;  brewers, 
with  decorated  hogsheads  with  Gambrinus  astride ; 
printers,  carpenters,  tanners,  cigarmakers,  etc,  at 
work  on  the  floats,  illustrating  Albany's  business  and 
trade  interests  and  development  after  two  centuries. 

Afternoon  :     Grand  open-air  concert. 

Night  :  Singing  by  Albany  singing  societies,  in 
the  Capitol  Park,  with  a  discharge  of  rockets,  bombs, 
etc.,  as  a  grand  finale. 

21 


Your  committee  further  recommend: 

I.  A  loan  exhibition  of  Albany's  antiquities,  heir- 
looms, historical  mementoes  and  objects  of  art,  for  a 
nominal  admission  fee. 

II.  An  appropriate  Bi-centennial  medal,  to  be 
struck  off,  as  a  memento  of  the  occasion,  in  gold, 
silver  and  bronze,  copies  to  be  presented  to  dis- 
tinguished guests  and  others,  to  be  sold  to  defray  its 
cost. 

III.  The  awarding  of  suitable  money  prizes  to  vis- 
iting fire  companies  for  merit,  best  drilled  company, 
handsomest  uniform,  oldest  apparatus  in  line,  finest 
modern  apparatus  in  line,  etc. 

IV.  An  appropriation,  in  money,  for  prizes  for  the 
professional  regatta,  the  purchase  of  suitable  trophies 
for  the  amateur  regatta  and  for  the  yacht  and  canoe 
races. 

V.  The  donation  by  this  committee  of  two  medals, 
one  for  a  boy  and  one  for  a  girl  scholar  in  Albany's 
school  who  will  write,  under  the  conditions  to  be 
prescribed,  the  best  essay  on  "Albany's  History  and 
Growth  in  Two  Centuries." 

VI.  The  hiring  of  bands  of  music,  to  be  always  at 
the  disposal  of  this  committee  and  to  be  used  when 
and  where  required. 

VII.  The  adoption  of  a  Bi-centennial  flag,  the  style 
of  which  to  be  kept  secret  until  ready  for  distribution. 

VIII.  The  hiring  of  rooms  in  various  hotels  for  the 
guests  of  the  city  on  the  occasion  in  question. 

IX.  The  procurement  of  an  elegantly  steel  en- 
graved card  of  invitation,  for  general  purposes,  and 
a  special  one  for  guests,  not  transferable. 

22 


X.  The  hiring  of  the  rink  for  one  week  for  all  pur- 
poses required. 

XI.  Invitations,  as  guests,  to  be  sent  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  and  his  cabinet ;  the  Gov- 
ernor and  his  staff;  the  Governors  of  the  thirty-eight 
States  ;  the  Mayors  of  all  the  cities  of  this  State  ;  the 
ex-Mayors  of  Albany  ;  Generals  Sherman,  Sheridan, 
Terry,  and  others. 

XII.  The  committee  to  decorate  the  public  build- 
ings, erect  triumphant  arches,  etc.,  wherever  required, 
etc. 

The  committee  recommend  the  adoption  of  the 
following  resolution  : 

I.  Resolved,  That  the  Chairman  appoint  the  fol- 
lowing sub-committees : 

On  Regatta.  To  have  charge  and  the  manage- 
ment of  the  regatta,  and  the  river  parade,  <:anoe  and 
yacht  races. 

On  Civic  Parade.  To  have  charge  and  the  man- 
agement of  the  civic  parade  and  of  the  firemen's  tour- 
nament. 

On  Military  Parade.  To  have  charge  of  and 
the  management  of  the  military  parade. 

On  Historical  Pageant.  To  have  charge  and 
the  management  of  the  parade  on  Wednesday  night. 

On  Fire-Works.     To  have  charge  of  same. 

On  Loan  Exhibition.     To  have  charge  of  same. 

On  Trade  Parade.     To  have  charge  of  same. 

On  Decorations.  To  have  charge  of  same  and 
of  monumenting  the  city  if  deemed  advisable. 

On  All  Nations'  Day.  To  guide  and  direct 
same  as  far  as  deemed  practicable. 

23 


II.  Resolved,  That  the  Reception  Committee 
have  in  charge  the  municipal  reception  and  the  per- 
sonal comfort  and  welcoming  of  the  city's  guests. 

III.  Resolved,  That  the  Committee  on  Orator, 
etc.,  have  in  charge  the  Bi-centennial  literary  exer- 
cises of  the  Children's  Day,  on  Monday,  and  the 
conditions  on  which  medals  shall  be  awarded  for 
scholars'  essay, 

IV.  Resolved,  That  the  Chairman  be  directed  to 
appoint  on  the  various  sub-committees  mentioned  in 
the  first  resolution,  the  members  of  the  Advisory 
Committee  in  such  numbers  and  in  such  manner  as 
the  best  interests  of  the  celebration  will  demand. 

V.  Resolved,  That  the  sub-committees  be  di- 
rected to  consider  all  the  matters  under  their  charge 
and  report,  with  all  convenient  speed,  the  approxi- 
mate cost  of  all  they  intend  to  do. 

VI.  Resolved,  That  all  contracts  be  in  the  name 
of  the  General  Committee. 

That  no  sub-committee  be  authorized  to  expend 
any  money  or  incur  any  liability  without  the  author- 
ity of  the  General  Committee. 

That  no  contract  involving  the  expenditure  of 
money  be  entered  into  without  the  approval  of  the 
Finance  Committee. 

VII.  Resolved,  That  all  matters  not  hereinbefore 
specifically  delegated  unless  otherwise  ordered,  be  in 
the  charge  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

VIII.  Resolved,  That  all  bills  for  any  expendi- 
ture of  money  by  the  Bi-centennial  Committee  shall, 
before  payment,  be  referred  to  the  Finance  Commit- 
tee  for  examination.     The  said  Finance  Committee, 


24 


or  a  majority  of  them,  shall  make  a  written  report  on 
each  bill  so  referred  with  their  opinion  as  to  the  cor- 
rectness of  said  bill,  before  said  bill  shall  be  passed 
upon  by  the  said  Bi-centennial  Committee.  All  such 
reports  shall  be  entered  in  full  upon  the  minutes  of 
the  said  committee. 

IX.  Resolved,  That  the  Treasurer  of  the  Bi-cen- 
tennial Committee  shall  receive  and  hold  all  moneys 
which  shall  hereafter  come  into  his  hands,  and  shall 
pay  out  the  same  only  on  the  order  of  the  said  com- 
mittee. All  orders  of  the  said  committee  upon  the 
Treasurer,  for  the  payment  of  money,  shall  specify 
the  object  for  which  the  payment  is  to  be  made,  and 
shall  be  signed  by  the  Chairman,  and  countersigned 
by  the  Secretary  of  the  said  committee,  but  no  ap- 
propriation of  money  shall  be  made  by  the  said  com- 
mittee, nor  any  resolution  adopted,  involving  the 
expenditure  of  money  for  any  purpose,  unless  first 
approved  of  by  the  Finance  Committee,  and  then  re- 
ceive a  vote  of  fifteen  members  of  the  Bi-centennial 
Committee,  which  is  understood  to  be  composed  of 
the  twenty-five  appointees  of  the  Mayor,  and  the  five 
members  of  the  Aldermanic  Committee  on  Public 
Celebrations. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

A.  Bleecker  Banks, 
Mayor,  and  Chairman  Executive  Committee. 

Robert  D.  Williams,  Secretary. 

The  Executive  Committee  were  also  directed  to 
report  as  to  the  feasibility  providing  for  the  appro- 
priation and  publication  of  a  memorial  volume  of  the 
Bi-centennial. 


25 


March  ii,  1886.  The  Chairman  reported  that  he 
had  several  times  conferred  with  the  projectors  of  the 
Loan  Exhibition,  and  that  they  were  anxious  to  join 
with  the  committee,  with  a  view  of  making  the  dis- 
play a  memorable  one  and  in  every  way  worthy  of 
the  sight;  and  it  was  thereupon  resolved,  that  the 
Chairman  be  and  he  hereby  is  authorized  to  appoint 
a  committee  of  twenty,  of  which  ten  shall  be  mem- 
bers of  this  Bi-centennial  Committee  and  ten  of  citi- 
zens outside  of  the  committee,  to  organize  and  carry 
on,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Bi-centennial  Com- 
mittee, a  loan  exhibition  in  connection  with  the  Bi- 
centennial celebration,  and  said  committee  to  be 
known  as  the  "  Citizens'  Bi-centennial  Loan  Exhibi- 
tion Committee."  At  this  meeting,  the  Executive 
Committee  also  recommended  the  final  action  on  the 
programme  be  deferred  until  after  a  meeting  of  the 
Advisory  Committee  which  was  called  for  March  14, 
1886.  Several  amendments  to  the  programme  as 
reported  were  also  submitted  by  the  members.  Sub- 
committees were  also  ordered  to  be  appointed  by  the 
Chair,  as  follows :  For  military  parade,  on  fire-works, 
on  dress  parade,  on  civic  parade,  on  historical  pa- 
geant, on  Loan  Exhibition,  on  decorations,  on  All 
Nations'  Day.  Mr.  Robert  Lenox  Banks,  from  the 
Washington  Park  Commissioners,  reported  that  they 
would  grant  the  use  of  Washington  Park  for  fire- 
works or  parade. 

March  18,  1886.  The  Chairman  named  the  fol- 
lowing as  members  of  the  Bi-centennial  Loan  Com- 
mission:  J.  Howard  King,  Chairman;  Robert  C. 
Pruyn,  J.  Townsend   Lansing,  Lewis  Boss,  Douw  H. 

26 


Fonda,  John  Zimmerman,  Samuel  B.  Towner,  VVm. 
B.  Van  Rensselaer,  Hon.  John  C.  Nott,  John  L.  Van 
Valkenburgh,  Robert  D.  Williams,  of  the  Bi-centen- 
nial  Committee,  and  John  Boyd  Thacher,  Charles 
Tracy,  Robert  S.  Oliver,  Henry  J.  Ten  Eyck,  W.  O. 
Stillwell,  Selden  E.  Marvin,  John  T.  Gardiner,  Geo. 
D.  Miller  and  Chas.  V.  Winne  on  behalf  of  the  citi- 
zens. It  was  also  resolved  that  the  matter  of  the 
feasibility  and  expense  of  the  historical  pageant  be 
referred  to  the  Executive  Committee,  and  that  they 
be  authorized,  if  it  is  deemed  expedient,  to  invite  Mr. 
De  Leon  to  visit  Albany  and  confer  with  the  Citi- 
zens' Committee,  and  that  two  hundred  dollars  be 
appropriated  or  as  much  thereof  as  may  be  necessary 
for  that  purpose. 

On  March  25,  1886,  the  joint  meeting  of  the  Citi- 
zens' Bi-centennial  and  the  Advisory  Committees  was 
held  in  the  Common  Council  chamber,  at  which  sev- 
enteen members  of  the  Bi-centennial  and  thirteen 
members  of  the  Advisory  Committees  convened. 
The  matter  discussed  was  the  proposed  programme 
as  reported  by  the  Executive  Committee. 

April  I,  1886.  The  committee  considered  various 
suggestions  previously  made  at  the  joint  meeting  and 
adopted,  among  others,  one,  that  the  National  Asso- 
ciation of  Amateur  Oarsmen  should  be  invited  to 
hold  their  regatta  here  during  the  Bi-centennial  week, 
and  $1,850  was  appropriated  to  cover  the  expenses, 
as  a  substitute  for  the  professional  regatta  first  pro- 
posed. 

April  8,  1886.  The  Chairman  announced  the 
Committee  on  Regatta :     Anthony  N.  Brady,  Patrick 

^7 


McCann,  Henry  W.  Garfield,  Simon  W.  Rosendale, 
Charles  E.  Jones,  Joseph  H.  Girvin,  Charles  Piepen- 
brink.  Subscriptions  towards  the  expense  of  the 
regatta,  by  Mr,  Hickey,  of  $750,  by  Mr,  George 
Marks,  of  $350,  were  reported.  Col,  T.  C.  De  Leon, 
pursuant  to  a  former  invitation,  appeared  before  the 
committee  and  explained  at  length  the  matter  of  the 
historical  pageant.  He  was  tendered  a  vote  of  thanks, 
and  a  sub-committee  of  five,  consisting  of  Professor 
Lewis  Boss,  W.  B,  Van  Rensselaer,  Walter  Dickson, 
James  H.  Manning  and  John  L,  Van  Valkenburgh, 
were  appointed  to  confer  with  him  and  report  a  plan 
and  an  estimate  of  probable  cost,  A  committee  of 
the  Board  of  Public  Instruction  communicated  a  pro- 
posed plan  of  exercises  for  Educational  Day,  as  fol- 
lows :  The  school  children  shall  gather  at  the  sev- 
eral school  buildings  in  the  morning  and  march  to 
the  building  or  inclosure  provided  for  large  gather- 
ings, and  there  take  part  in  literary  and  musical 
exercises.  The  programme  of  the  literary  exercises 
should  be  made  to  illustrate  important  incidents  of 
the  settlement  and  progress  of  the  city,  and  the  sub- 
ject-matter to  be  rendered  and  the  costuming  of  the 
members  shall  be  typical  of  the  epoch  illustrated ; 
the  musical  parts  shall  be  rendered  by  the  chorus  of 
from  six  to  eight  hundred  voices,  specially  trained 
for  the  occasion,  aided  by  an  ample  orchestra  and 
supported  in  the  patriotic  and  familiar  choruses  by 
the  entire  body  of  pupils.  The  presentation  of  two 
prizes  offered  for  the  best  essays  on  "  Albany's  His- 
tory and  Growth  in  Two  Centuries,"  to  the  success- 
ful competitors,  by  the  Mayor  on  behalf  of  the  city, 

28 


shall  be  made  a  prominent  feature  in  the  programme. 
Aside  from  this  presentation  and  the  reading  of  the 
awards,  all  the  parts  on  the  programme  shall  be 
sustained  by  the  school  children,  and  all  the  school 
children  in  the  city  shall  be  invited  to  participate. 
The  following  were  conditions  of  competition  for 
the  two  prizes  offered  by  the  Citizens'  Committee, 
one  for  a  boy,  and  one  for  a  girl  scholar  in  any 
school  in  the  city  of  Albany,  who  will  write  the  best 
essay  on  "Albany's  History  and  Growth  in  Two 
Centuries :  " 

1.  Each  competitor  must  be  a  resident  of  the  city. 

2.  He  must  be  an  attendant  of  a  regular  organized 
school. 

3.  The  essay  must  not  exceed  thirty-five  hundred 
words  in  length. 

4.  It  must  be  written  on  one  side  only  of  letter 
paper. 

5.  It  must  be  signed  by  a  fictitious  name,  and  a 
sealed  envelope  endorsed  with  the  fictitious  name  and 
inclosing  the  card  having  the  real  name  and  school 
of  the  competitor,  must  accompany  the  essay. 

6.  The  essays  and  the  accompanying  envelopes 
must  be  left  at  the  office  of  the  Superintendent  of 
Schools  in  the  High  School,  on  or  before  Friday,  the 
25th  day  of  June,  1886. 

April  15,  1886.  A  communication  was  received 
accepting  the  invitation  extended  the  National  As- 
sociation of  Amateur  Oarsmen  to  hold  the  annual 
regatta  during  Bi-centennial  week.  Professor  Boss, 
from  the  sub-committee  on  historical  pageant,  pre- 
sented the  following  report: 


29 


Report  of  the  sub-committee  appointed  to  confer 
with  Mr,  T.  C.  De  Leon  in  the  matter  of  the  histori- 
cal pageant : 

To  THE  Citizens'  Bi-Centennial  Committee: 

The  resolution,  under  which  your  committee  was 
appointed,  directed  us  to  confer  with  Mr.  T.  C.  De 
Leon,  of  Mobile,  in  the  matter  of  the  proposed  his- 
torical pageant,  and  to  report  the  results  of  our  inves- 
tigation to  the  General  Committee.  These  terms  of 
our  commission  were  rather  vague  and  general,  and 
we  have  given  them  a  broad  construction,  realizing, 
as  we  now  do,  that  if  affirmative  action  is  to  be  taken 
in  regard  to  the  historical  pageant  that  the  saving  of 
time  is  very  important. 

Your  committee,  with  a  full  attendance,  has  held 
daily  meetings  upon  the  subject  referred  to  it,  and 
has  devoted  a  great  deal  of  time,  both  individually 
and  as  a  committee,  to  the  examination  of  all  ques- 
tions upon  which  it  was  deemed  that  information 
is  desirable,  in  order  that  the  General  Committee, 
to  which  this  report  is  made,  may  act  intelligently 
thereupon. 

L 

In  our  investigation  and  in  this  report,  it  has  ap- 
peared to  us  that  the  first  question  is  as  to  the  advis- 
ability of  the  proposed  historical  pageant,  irrespective 
of  matters  relating  to  ways  and  means  or  to  obstacles 
tending  to  make  its  production  difficult  or  impos- 
sible. 

On  this  point,  we  are  strongly  of  the  opinion  that 
some  such  feature  in  our  Bi-centennial  celebration  is 


desirable.  Our  conferences  with  Mr.  De  Leon  have 
convinced  us  that  the  history  of  Albany,  with  the 
events  that  led  up  to  the  founding  of  this  city,  afford 
ample  material  for  the  formation  of  a  pageant  which 
shall  be  not  only  instructive  to  our  own  people  and 
to  those  who  may  visit  us,  but  also  attractive  in 
appearance,  as  well  as  thoroughly  appropriate  and 
interesting  as  an  entertainment  apart  from  the  senti- 
ment involved. 

Members  of  the  committee  submitted  to  Mr.  De 
Leon  subjects  and  incidents  relating  to  our  history, 
with  a  request  to  him  to  make  a  written  report  to  us, 
showing  whether  the  topics  could  be  advantageously 
illustrated  on  so-called  floats  in  the  manner  custom- 
ary in  Mobile,  New  Orleans,  Baltimore  and  other 
cities  in  their  well-known  mystic  pageants.  On  this 
point,  the  report  of  Mr.  De  Leon  was  in  a  high 
degree  satisfactory  to  us.  From  the  matter  sub- 
mitted to  him,  Mr.  De  Leon  sketched  descriptions  of 
twent)^-onc  floats,  from  which  a  choice  may  be  made 
that  will  not  be  lacking  either  in  interest  or  in  the 
facility  for  brilliant  treatment  and  dazzling  eff"ects. 
This  portion  of  our  report  we  desire  to  hold  con- 
fidentially, to  be  submitted  to  the  sub-committee 
having  charge  of  the  proposed  pageant,  should  the 
pageant  itself  be  authorized  and  such  committee  be 
appointed.  The  reasons  for  this  request  will  be 
more  fully  stated  in  another  communication  from  us. 

The  number  of  floats  which  appears  most  suitable 
is  sixteen,  including  the  first  or  title  float.  They  can 
be  made  of  various  dimensions.  The  sizes,  demon- 
strated by  experience  to  be  most  suitable  and   man- 


ageable,  are  from  eight  by  sixteen  to  ten  by  twenty 
feet. 

Floats  of  this  size  and  of  approved  construction 
require  two  horses  for  hauHng,  and  experience  has 
shown  that  it  is  desirable  to  use  as  few  horses  as 
possible.  The  floats  should  succeed  each  other  in 
the  parade  at  intervals  of  from  sixty  to  one  hundred 
feet  and  be  carried  along  as  slowly  as  possible  with 
constant  movement.  We  estimate  that  a  parade,  con- 
sisting of  sixteen  floats,  headed  by  a  band,  would  be 
quarter  of  an  hour  in  passing  a  given  point.  Each 
float  would  be  preceded  by  a  transparency  show- 
ing, in  plain  lettering,  the  subject-matter  of  the  float 
which  follows  it ;  and  the  bearers  of  these  trans- 
parencies, together  with  all  other  employees  in  the 
mechanical  service  of  the  parade,  would  be  made  as 
inconspicuous  as  possible. 

We  assume  that  the  general  character  of  the  floats 
themselves,  is  already  sufficiently  understood  by  this 
committee.  They  consist  of  a  box  construction  fit- 
ting over  the  wheels,  as  a  base ;  and  on  this  is  placed 
the  scenery  or  other  erections  required  in  the  rep- 
resentations proposed.  The  floats  are  lighted  by 
"  lamp  men "  from  the  two  sides,  and  further  illu- 
minated by  red  and  other  colored  fires  furnished  by 
the  "  firemen  "  accompanying  the  parade.  A  num- 
ber of  experts  accompany  the  parade  for  its  mechan- 
ical management  and  to  be  serviceable  in  case  of 
accident. 

The  floats  virtually  constitute  a  series  of  moving 
tableaux.  The  success  of  the  representation  largely 
depends  upon  the  good  behavior,  good  taste  and  in- 

32 


telligence  of  those  who  are  chosen  to  appear  in  these 
tableaux,  representing,  as  they  do,  distinguished  per- 
sonages in  history  and  actors  in  events  described. 
Careful  inquiry  and  consideration  leads  us  to  the 
conclusion  that  volunteers  must  be  depended  upon 
for  this  service,  which  is  not  only  highly  responsible 
and  arduous,  but  also  requires  persons  of  intelligence 
who  have  some  pride  in  the  success  of  the  parade. 
We  have  been  led  to  believe  that  Albany  has  a  suf- 
ficient number  of  public-spirited  young  men  compe- 
tent for  the  duty  required,  who  would  volunteer  to 
supply  characters  in  the  tableaux  when  their  services 
are  needed. 

If  a  full  parade  of  floats  is  not  desired,  the  only 
practicable  alternatives  appear  to  be  either  a  parade 
on  horse-back  or  a  foot  parade,  neither  of  which  pre- 
sents arguments  in  its  favor  that  we  are  prepared  to 
approve.  Investigations  by  your  committee  have 
shown  that  a  creditable  parade  on  horse-back  would 
cost  equally  as  much  as  the  proposed  historical 
pageant.  A  foot  parade,  at  the  best,  would  be  en- 
tirely unsatisfactory,  could  not  be  made  a  conspicu- 
ous feature  of  the  celebration,  and,  if  any  adequate 
attempt  were  made,  would  prove  very  costly.  It  is 
likely  that  many  volunteer  processions  in  costume 
will  take  place  during  the  Bi-centennial  week  which 
would  tend  to  impair  the  enjoyment  of  any  novelty 
that  might  be  attempted  in  a  foot  parade  on  Wednes- 
day night.  Should  it  be  decided  to  abandon  the 
idea  of  having  a  historical  pageant,  it  would  then 
appear  that  some  entirely  different  feature  of  public 
amusement  should  be  substituted. 


33 


Thus  far  we  have  considered  this  subject  simply  in 
relation  to  its  general  bearings  and  desirability  as  a 
form  of  public  entertainment,  apart  from  the  ob- 
stacles to  accomplishment  which  might  render  the 
undertaking  difficult  or  out  of  the  question,  and  en- 
tirely aside  from  the  factor  of  cost  as  related  to  ways 
and  means  and  return  for  the  money  expended. 

II. 

Your  committee  has  given  close  attention  to  the 
difficulties  which  the  production  of  a  historical  pa- 
geant here  in  Albany  involves. 

The  construction  of  floats  would  last  several  weeks, 
and  during  that  time  the  use  of  a  large  building  (say 
twenty-five  by  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  feet) 
would  be  required.  The  place  of  construction  must 
be  conveniently  accessible  from  the  line  of  parade 
over  a  level  and  fairly  well-paved  street.  So  far  as 
we  are  able  to  learn,  no  suitable  locality  for  the 
purpose  can  be  chosen  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city. 
Some  point  in  the  western  part  of  the  city  would 
probably  have  to  be  selected,  and  we  are  of  the 
opinion  that  it  would  be  necessary  to  construct  a 
building  for  the  purpose. 

The  question  whether  a  suitable  line  of  parade 
can  be  selected  is  of  paramount  importance.  Rough 
pavement  presents  a  serious  obstacle  to  the  successful 
moving  of  floats.  It  is  practically  out  of  the  question 
to  descend  the  steeper  grades  found  in  our  streets, 
and  even  the  ascent,  which  is  much  less  difficult,  can- 
not be  thought  of  in  many  localities.  A  height  of 
sixteen  feet  is  believed  to  be  the  maximum  really 
required   in  the  programme  submitted  to  us  by  Mr. 

34 


De  Leon,  and,  therefore,  there  must  be  a  clear  space 
equal  to  seventeen  or  eighteen  feet  in  height  over  the 
entire  route  selected.  Any  telegraph  or  other  lines 
as  well  as  any  branches  of  trees  which  hang  below 
this  limit  must  be  raised  or  removed.  After  a  de- 
tailed examination  of  our  principal  thoroughfares 
and  of  connecting  streets,  we  are  decidedly  of  the 
opinion  that  a  selection  of  a  feasible  route  for  the 
parade  presents  no  essential  difficulty.  There  are 
places  in  which  wires  would  have  to  be  raised,  but 
the  extent  of  these  is  small  and  the  number  of  wires 
comparatively  few.  We  also  have  reason  to  believe 
that  there  will  not  be  the  least  difficulty  in  securing 
the  proper  remedy  in  the  case  of  telegraph,  tele- 
phone and  electric  light  wires  which  may  interfere 
with  a  selected  route.  After  careful  inspection,  we 
find  that  it  would  be  entirely  feasible  to  carry  the 
pageant  down  Hudson  avenue  to  Pearl  street,  thence 
to  Clinton  avenue,  up  Clinton  avenue  to  Lark  street, 
thence  to  the  place  of  beginning ;  and  this,  together 
with  portions  of  Washington  avenue  and  State  street 
with  short  connecting  streets,  appears  to  constitute 
the  only  available  route.  Members  of  the  Citizens' 
Committee  will  readily  understand  this  decision  when 
they  consider  the  peculiar  structure  of  bulky  floats 
supporting  tableaux  high  in  air,  requiring  plenty  of 
space  and  favorable  grades,  especially  at  all  turning 
points. 

Reference  has  already  been  made  to  the  difficulty 
of  supplying  characters  for  the  tableaux  upon  the 
floats.  We  are  confident  that  volunteers  can  be 
secured. 


35 


There  is  some  danger  of  break-downs  and  other 
accidents  to  the  moving  pageant.  The  contractor  or 
manager,  with  his  assistants,  looks  after  such  contin- 
gencies. A  number  of  expert  mechanics  accompany 
the  parade,  ready  for  emergencies,  with  tools,  extra 
wheels  and  other  material. 

The  parade  cannot  be  moved  in  the  rain.  In  case 
the  parade  could  not  be  moved  on  Wednesday  night 
on  account  of  rain,  Thursday  or  Friday  night  would 
still  be  available — and  even  Saturday  night,  if  we 
should  be  so  unfortunate  as  to  have  three  rainy 
nights  in  succession.  Such  postponement  would  en- 
tail no  extra  expense  to  the  committee. 

These  and  many  other  natural  and  mechanical  ob- 
stacles to  the  successful  production  of  the  proposed 
pageant  have  been  considered  in  detail  and  with 
painstaking  care  by  your  committee,  and  we  are  of 
the  opinion  that  they  do  not,  in  themselves,  consti- 
tute a  valid  argument  against  the  possibility  of  the 
parade. 

After  carefully  weighing  all  the  facts  and  argu- 
ments in  the  case,  we  are  decidedly  of  the  opinion 
that  the  proposed  historical  pageant  should  be  pre- 
sented to  the  public  in  first-class  style  or  not  at  all. 
Those  who  have  seen  similar  exhibitions  in  Balti- 
more, New  Orleans  and  other  cities  should  find  in  Al- 
bany no  warrant  for  unfavorable  comparisons.  We 
have  reflected  upon  the  fact  that  our  undertaking,  if 
adopted,  will  be  essentially  different  in  spirit  from 
anything  previously  undertaken  in  the  same  general 
line.  It  will  be  incumbent  upon  us  to  show  that  a 
strictly  historical  theme  offers  equal,  and  it  is  to  be 

36 


hoped,  ven  more  satisfactory  facilities  for  illustration 
than  have  been  afforded  by  mystic  performances  else- 
where. It  may  fairly  be  expected  that  our  pageant 
will  be  in  one  sense  a  pioneer  effort,  and  that  it  will 
become  an  exemplar  in  similar  undertakings  else- 
where in  the  future.  We  have  carefully  considered 
the  matter  in  this  light,  and  we  are  convinced  that 
the  proposed  pageant  cannot  be  put  upon  the  streets 
for  a  sum  much  less  than  $10,000.  We  do  not  be- 
lieve that  the  people  could  be  properly  entertained, 
or  the  members  of  this  committee  satisfied,  with  any 
show  of  this  kind  that  could  be  produced  for  a  sum 
materially  less  than  the  one  we  have  mentioned. 

Whether  this  very  large  sum  can  properly  be  de- 
voted to  such  a  purpose,  each  member  of  this  com- 
mittee must  decide  for  himself. 

III. 

In  response  to  a  request  from  your  committee  for 
estimates,  Mr.  De  Leon  has  expressed  his  willingness 
to  contract  to  prepare  such  a  pageant,  according  to 
plans  and  specifications,  in  first-class  style,  and  con- 
sisting of  sixteen  floats,  for  the  gross  sum  of  $9,000. 
He  would  make  a  deduction  of  $500  for  each  float 
less  than  the  number  selected.  For  this  sum,  he  will 
turn  over  to  the  committee,  the  parade  completely 
constructed  and  manned,  except  that  he  cannot  en- 
gage to  procure  the  figurantes  or  characters  for  the 
living  tableaux  upon  the  floats.  As  before  stated, 
these  should  be  volunteers  provided  by  this  com- 
mittee ;  and  he  estimates  that  seventy-five  of  them 
would  be  needed. 


37 


The  men  he  will  furnish  for  carrying  the  parade 
through  the  streets  will  be  as  follows :  Experts, 
6;  title-bearers,  15;  lamp  men,  70;  "firemen,"  32; 
grooms,  32.  He  estimates  that  forty  horses  will  be 
needed,  and  these  he  will  also  provide. 

The  Bi-centennial  Committee,  if  it  should  accept 
Mr.  De  Leon's  proposals,  would  have  to  provide  a 
building  for  construction.  This  building  should  be 
about  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  feet  long,  twenty 
feet  wide  and  twenty  feet  high  in  the  clear;  and  we 
estimate  that  such  a  building,  if  constructed  by  us, 
will  cost  about  $750  net. 

In  view  of  the  facts  which  we  have  already  pre- 
sented, and  which  are  supplemented  by  a  great  vari- 
ety of  facts  and  arguments  that  could  not  be  well  set 
forth  in  the  limits  of  this  report,  your  committee 
respectfully  submits  the  following  conclusions : 

1.  The  matter  of  the  proposed  historical  pageant 
must  be  decided  at  once, 

2.  While  your  action  upon  the  main  question  does 
not  directly  and  formally  make  an  appropriation,  the 
matter  is  one  of  great  importance,  and  we,  therefore, 
recommend  that  previous  to  voting  upon  it  a  resolu- 
tion be  passed  requiring  that  fifteen  affirmative  votes 
shall  be  necessary  for  the  adoption  of  any  pro- 
position authorizing  the  production  of  a  historical 
pageant. 

3.  We  are  of  the  opinion  that  it  is  desirable  to 
carry  out  the  design  for  a  historical  pageant. 

4.  The  success  of  a  parade,  such  as  is  proposed, 
depends  largely  upon  the  secrecy  with  which  the 
details  are  perfected.     It  is,  therefore,  obviously  nee- 

38 


essary  that  the  persons  immediately  entrusted  with 
its  management  shall  be  invested  with  full  power  as 
to  details.  If  the  committee  authorizes  the  produc- 
tion of  a  historical  pageant  as  we  have  recommended, 
we  urge  that  a  sub -committee  of  five  be  appointed  at 
once  to  carry  out  the  plans  under  the  direction  of  the 
Citizens'  Bi-centennial  Committee. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

Lewis  Boss, 

Walter  Dickson, 

James  H.  Manning, 

John  L.  Van  Valkenburgh, 

W.  Bayard  Van  Rensselaer. 


This  report  was  accepted.  A  sum  not  to  exceed 
$10,000  was  appropriated  therefor.  A  committee  to 
recommend  an  appropriate  Bi-centennial  flag,  con- 
sisting of  Franklin  M.  Danaher,  Wm.  M.  Whitney, 
Walter  Dickson  and  Archibald  McClure,  was  ap- 
pointed. 

April  22,  1886.  The  Chairman  moved  that  an 
invitation  be  extended  to  the  Governor,  Lieutenant- 
Governor  and  Members  of  the  Senate  and  Assembly, 
and  also  State  officers,  to  participate  in  the  com- 
ing Bi-centennial  celebration.  It  was  carried.  From 
the  joint  committees,  the  executive  and  finance,  re- 
port was  made  that  the  total  expenses  of  the  cele- 
bration would  be  between  $35,000  and  $40,000,  the 
Finance  Committee  adding  that  they  feel  assured 
that  that  amount  can  be  raised.  The  Chairman 
presented  the  following  communication : 

39 


Antwerpen,  Den.,  April  3,  1886. 
To    THE    Honorable  A.  Bleecker  Banks,  Mayor  of 
THE  City  of  Albany,  New  York,  United  States 
OF  North  America  : 

Sir — We  received  quite  well  your  letter  of  the  25th  Feb- 
ruary past,  by  which  you  and  the  Honorable  Common 
Council  of  your  city  are  so  kind  to  us,  as  well  as  the  inhabi- 
tants of  our  town,  to  participate  in  the  festivities  which  will 
be  held  in  the  city  of  Albany  in  order  to  celebrate,  on  the 
22d  July  next,  the  two  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  charter 
of  your  city. 

This  invitation  makes  us  so  much  the  more  pleasure,  as  it 
comes  from  a  people  who  remembers  on  the  other  side  of 
the  Atlantic  and  for  a  solemn  occasion  its  origin.  The  old 
Netherlands  are  pleased  and  happy  to  learn  their  American 
sons  did  not  forget  their  brothers  who  remained  at  home. 

We  have  given  knowledge  of  your  kind  missive  to  the 
Common  Council  and  the  inhabitants  of  this  city,  and  we 
are  much  obliged  to  you.  If  any  are  intending  to  travel 
to  your  country,  we  .shall  find  much  pleasure  to  let  you 
know  it. 

We  remain,  dear  sir,  faithfully  yours. 

For  the  Burgomaster, 
By  Ordinance,  The  Aldermen, 

The  Secretary,  *     *     #     *     * 


April  29,  1886.  The  following  designations  were 
reported :  Orator,  Governor  David  B.  Hill ;  Poet, 
William  H.  McElroy ;  and  also  that  the  gentlemen 
named   had  signified  their  acceptance. 

The  sum  of  $3,000  was  appropriated  to  cover  the 
disbursements  of  the  Committee  on  Music  ;  the  sum 
of  $900  for  the  Bi-centennial  flag. 

May  6,  1886.  Mr.  Rosendale  presented  the  fol- 
lowing communication  : 


40 


Albany,  N.  Y.,  May  6,  1886. 
To  THE  Citizens'  Bi-Centennial  Committee  : 

Since  your  last  meeting  my  term  of  office,  as  Mayor,  has 
expired,  and  my  successor,  Hon.  John  Boyd  Thacher,  has 
quaUfied  and  is  now  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 

The  character  of  your  committee  is  such  that  you  repre- 
sent, not  only  the  citizens,  but  the  municipality  itself,  and, 
as  upon  the  Mayor  will  necessarily  devolve  many  of  the 
chief  duties  connected  with  the  celebration,  it  seems  appro- 
priate he  should  be  at  the  head  of  the  Citizens'  Bi-centen- 
nial  Committee. 

I,  therefore,  hereby  tender  my  resignation  as  Chairman 
of  your  committee. 

I  have  every  confidence  that  under  the  chairmanship  of 
Mayor  Thacher  the  work  will  be  successfully  conducted. 

I  beg  to  express  my  acknowledgments  for  the  considera- 
tion extended  to  me  by  you,  individually  and  collectively, 
and  confidently  expect  that  the  enthusiasm,  earnestness  and 
zeal  which  has  characterized  your  labors  will  be  continued 
and  crowned  with  complete  success. 

With  very  great  respect,  I  remain, 

A.  Bleecker  Banks. 


Resignation  was  accepted. 

Mr.  Ouinby  offered  the  following:  That  this  com- 
mittee extends  its  heartfelt  thanks  to  ex-Mayor  A. 
Bleecker  Banks  for  the  kindly  and  active  interest  he 
has  taken  in  the  proposed  celebration  of  the  Bi-cen- 
tennial  of  the  city  of  Albany  and  for  the  labors  done 
with  and  in  behalf  of  this  committee,  and  trusts  that 
it  will  continue  to  have  the  benefit  of  his  counsel  and 
active  co-operation.     Adopted. 

Mr.  Wemple  offered  the  following:  That  Hon. 
John  Boyd  Thacher,  Mayor,  be  and  is  hereby  elected 
Chairman  and  Hon.  A.  Bleecker  Banks  be  elected 
Vice-Chairman  of  the  Citizens'  Bi-centennial  Com- 
mittee.     Adopted. 

41 


Mr.  Hitt  moved  that  A.  Bleecker  Banks  continue 
as  Chairman  and  member  of  all  sub-committees  of 
which  he  is  now  Chairman  and  member,  and  that 
Mayor  John  Boyd  Thacher  be  made  member  of  such 
committees  ex-officio.      Carried. 

The  Secretary  presented  and  read  the  following 
communication : 

The  Mansion  House,         ) 
London,  Eng.,  April  21,  1886.  ) 

My  Dear  Sir — I  am  in  receipt  of  your  worship's  very 
kind  letter  of  February  25th,  in  which  you  are  good  enough 
to  invite  me  to  participate  in  the  festivities  of  July  next  in 
celebrating  the  Bi-centennial  of  the  charter  of  the  city  of 
Albany. 

It  would  have  given  me  very  great  pleasure  to  have 
joined  you  in  this  auspicious  commemoration,  but  I  regret 
exceedingly  diat  my  official  engagements  in  London  at  that 
time  forbid  the  hope  that  I  could  undertake  so  long  a  jour- 
ney. If  I  learn  that  any  members  of  the  corporation  of 
London  are  likely  to  be  in  America  in  July,  I  will  not  fail 
to  commend  them  to  the  courtesy  of  yourself  and  your 
fellow-citizens. 

Permit  me  again  to  thank  you  for  your  flattering  and 
obliging  invitation,  and  to  express,  in  advance,  my  sincere 
congratulations  to  the  citizens  of  Albany  of  the  celebration 
of  so  interesting  an  event  in  the  annals  of  their  municipality, 
and  on  the  prosperous  and  flourishing  condition  in  which 
your  city  happily  finds  itself  after  so  prolonged  and  useful 
an  existence  as  a  chartered  community. 

Believe  me,  my  dear  sir,  your  worship's  very  faithful  ser- 
vant and  colleague, 

John  Staples, 

Lord  Mayor  of  London. 

The  Worshipful  A.  Bleecker  Banks, 

Mayor  of  the  city  of  Albany,  United  States. 

Also  the  following : 

42 


Albany,  N.  Y.,  April,  28,  1886. 
To  THE  Hon.  A.  Bleecker  Banks, 

Mayor  and  Chairman   of  the   Citizens'   Bi-centennial 
Committee. 

The  Lieutenant-Governor  accepts  with  pleasure  the  invi- 
tation to  participate  in  the  celebration  of  the  two  hundredth 
anniversary  of  the  granting  of  the  charter  to  the  city  of 
Albany  by  Governor  Thomas  Dungan. 

Received  and  ordered  entered  in  full  on  the  min- 
utes. 

It  was  resolved  that  the  thanks  of  the  committee 
be  and  they  are  hereby  tendered  to  the  Members  of 
the  Legislature  and  others  who  participated  at  the 
base  ball  game  to-day,  at  West  Troy,  for  the  benefit 
of  the  Bi-centennial  fund.  Mr.  A.  Bleecker  Banks, 
Mr.  McElroy  and  Mr.  Williams  were  appointed  to 
examine  and  audit  all  accounts  on  behalf  of  the  com- 
mittee. 

May  13,  1886.  Acknowledgments  of  invitations 
to  attend  the  Bi-centennial  celebration  were  received 
from  the  Hon.  Dennis  O'Brien,  Attorney-General  of 
the  State  of  New  York;  Hon.  Lawrence  J.  Fitz- 
gerald, State  Treasurer ;  Hon.  Thomas  E.  Benedict, 
Deputy  Comptroller.  The  sum  of  $1,900  was  ap- 
propriated for  engraving  and  printing.  Mr.  Dick- 
son, in  behalf  of  the  Committee  on  Decorations  and 
Monumenting  presented  a  detailed  report,  which  pro- 
vided for  four  evergreen  arches ;  nineteen  granite 
slabs  with  bronze  tablets ;  five  bronze  tablets  in 
buildings  ;  five  bronze  tablets,  old  street  names  ;  dec- 
orations for  the  City  Hall,  City  building,  Schuyler 
corner,  Pemberton  corner,  Schuyler  mansion.  Manor 

r 

43 


house,  Albany;   Manor  house,  Greenbush,  and  other 
ancient  houses.     The  report  concluded  as  follows : 

"  Your  committee,  aware  of  the  grave  responsi- 
bility to  them  entrusted,  of  monumenting  the  site  of 
old  land  marks  and  cherished  spots  which  are  in- 
tended to  add  to  the  attractiveness  of  the  city  of 
Albany,  and  which  will,  doubtless,  arouse  in  the 
hearts  of  unborn  generations  a  stronger  love  of  birth- 
place and  home,  and  a  more  deeply  impressed  famil- 
iarity with  its  early  history  and  its  prominence  in 
securing  the  liberties  he,  as  a  native,  now  enjoys,  in 
order  that  we  shall  not  omit  anything  important  to 
this  object  or  make  errors  in  our  work,  in  all  candor, 
solicit  additional  information,  suggestions  and  cor- 
rections which  can  or  may  be  offered  to  us,  the  same 
to  be  duly  considered  and,  if  approved,  carried  out 
to  the  best  of  our  ability."  It  was  also  suggested 
that  an  arch  of  evergreens  be  placed  at  each  place 
designated  as  the  city  gates  of  1695.  ^^  was  also 
resolved  that  the  Chairman  of  this  committee  be 
authorized  to  establish  a  general  head-quarters  for 
this  committee,  where  all  business,  pertaining  to  the 
forthcoming  celebration,  can  be  transacted,  and  to 
organize  and  conduct  a  Bureau  of  Information  and 
Accommodations.  A  committee  of  five  was  desig- 
nated to  meet  with  the  Committee  on  Public  Cele- 
brations at  the  Common  Council  chamber,  for  the 
purpose  of  appropriating  and  dividing  the  $10,000 
provided  in  the  annual  tax  budget  of  the  city  for 
1886,  for  Bi-centennial  purposes. 

May    20,    1886.      Acknowledgments    and    accept- 
ances  of   the   committee's    invitation    to    participate 

44 


were  received  from  the  Hon.  Frederick  Cook,  Secre- 
tary of  State ;  the  Hon.  VVni.  B.  Ruggles,  Deputy- 
Superintendent  of  Insurance,  and  Hon.  Alfred  C. 
Chapin,  Comptroller. 

Mr.  Henry  Martin,  John  M.  Walsh,  John  D.  Reilly, 
Thos.  S.  O'Brien,  Michael  D.  Slattery,  David  Healey 
and  Thos.  H.  Hankin  were  added  to  the  All  Nations' 
Day  Committee.  The  Aldermen  of  the  city  were 
appointed  an  Auxiliary  Committee  with  the  Finance 
Committee  to  collect  and  receive  subscriptions  for  the 
Bi-centennial.  Messrs.  W.  B.  Mellius  and  George  R. 
Howell  were  added  to  the  Committee  on  Decoration 
and  Monumenting.  An  editorial  representative,  from 
each  of  the  city  daily  papers,  was  added  to  the  Finance 
Committee,  and  the  sum  of  $3,000  was  appropriated 
for  fire-works.  The  sum  of  $2,500  was  appropriated 
for  monumenting  and  decorating.  The  sum  of  $1,900 
was  appropriated  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  Recep- 
tion Committee.  The  sum  of  $500  was  advanced 
for  preliminary  expenses  of  the  Loan  Exhibition. 

May  27,  1886.  Acknowledgments  and  accept- 
ances of  the  invitations  of  the  committee  were  re- 
ceived from  the  Hon.  Elnathan  Sweet,  State  Engi- 
neer and  Surveyor,  and  Hon.  John  Bogart,  Deputy. 
Notice  was  given  that  head-quarters  for  the  Com- 
mittee on  General  Information  had  been  opened  at 
No.  480  Broadway.  The  following  assignments  of 
members  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  to  sub-commit- 
tees were  announced:  Finance,  David  J.  Norton; 
Reception,  James  O.  Woodward  ;  Regatta,  George 
L.  Thomas;   All  Nations'  Day,  John  J.  Greagan. 

45 


June  3,   1886.     The  Chairman  presented  the  fol- 
lowing communication  : 


To  THE  Right  Honorable  A.  Bleecker  Banks,  Mayor 
OF  Albany  : 

With  many  thanks  for  your  kind  and  honoring  invitation 
in  regard  to  the  festivities  on  the  occasion  of  the  two  hun- 
dredth anniversary  of  Albany  as  a  chartered  city,  we  try  to 
express  our  great  regret  that  no  official  representation  of  the 
city  of  Amsterdam  will  be  possible. 

Yours  respectfully. 
The  Burgomaster  and  Aldermen  of  Amsterdam. 


An  invitation  to  be  sent  to  the  heads  of  all  schools 
in  the  city  was  adopted  as  follows : 

Albany,  N.  Y.,  April  20,  1886. 
Principal  of 

Dear  Sir — Your  school  is  cordially  invited  to  join  with 
the  other  schools  of  the  city  in  celebrating  the  two  hun- 
dredth anniversary  of  Albany's  civic  birth  in  the  jubilee 
exercises  of  Monday,  July  19.  Should  you  accept  this 
invitation,  you  will  greatly  oblige  us  by  communicating  that 
fact  to  Robert  D.  Williams,  Secretary,  488  Broadway,  on 
or  before  May  ist,  since  the  details  of  the  programme  must 
be  arranged  at  an  early  date. 

Respectfully, 

A.  Bleecker  Banks,  Chairman. 


June  10,  1886.  Messrs.  R.  S.  Oliver,  George  H. 
Thacher,  Jr.,  and  W.  W.  Gibson  were  added  as 
advisory  members.  Mr.  Dickson,  in  behalf  of  the 
Committee  on  Monumenting  and  Decorations,  pre- 
sented the  following  report  relative  to  bronze  tablets, 
as  follows : 

46 


Tablet  No.  i — Fort  Orange. 

Located  fifty  feet  east  of  the  bend  in  Broadway,  at 
Steamboat  square,  will  be  placed  a  granite  block  3x4  feet 
square  and  sixteen  inches  high,  with  a  slanting  top  to  shed 
water  and  surrounded  by  an  iron  railing  for  protection.  On 
the  top  of  this  granite  will  be  placed  a  bronze  tablet  20x32 
inches,  with  raised  letters  on  stippled  ground-work  fastened 
with  flush  bolts.  On  it  will  be  inscribed :  "  Upon  this 
Spot,  Washed  by  the  Tide,  Stood  the  north-east  Bastion  of 
Fort  Orange,  Erected  about  1623.  Here  the  Powerful 
Iroquois  met  the  Deputies  of  this  and  Other  Colonies  in 
Conference,  to  Establish  Treaties.  Here  the  first  Courts 
were  Held.  Here,  in  1643,  under  the  Direction  of  Dom- 
inie Johannes  Megapolensis,  a  Learned  and  Estimable  Min- 
ister, the  Earliest  Church  was  Erected  north-west  of  the 
Fort,  and  to  the  South  of  it  Stood  the  Dominie's  House." 

Tablet  No.  2 — Municipal. 

A  bronze  tablet,  32x40  inches,  inserted  in  the  exterior 
surface  of  the  Eagle  street  wall  of  the  City  Hall.  It  is  thus 
inscribed  : 

[Correct  Coat  of  Arms  of  the  City.]  "  Tablet  commem- 
orating the  200th  anniversary  of  Albany  as  a  Chartered 
City.  Charter  granted  by  Gov.  Dongan,  July  22,  1686. 
Settled  about  1624.  The  time  women  arrived.  Made 
State  Capital  1797.  Early  names  of  the  City:  Fort 
Orange,  Beverwycke,  Wilemstadt.  First  City  Hall  build- 
ing erected  near  Fort  Orange  about  1686.  Second  one 
erected  north-east  corner  of  Broadway  and  Hudson  Street 
about  1705.  Third  one  erected  on  this  site  1829.  Burned 
1 88 1.  Fourth,  or  Present  Building,  1883.  First  Mayor, 
1686,  Peter  Schuyler;  Centennial  Mayor,  1786,  John  Lan- 
sing, Jr.;  Bi-Centennial  Mayor,  1886,  John  Boyd  Thacher. 
Bi-Centennial  Committee." 

Tablet  No.  3 — Broadway. 

Located  on  ground  front  of  Government  building,  on 
Broadway  near  corner  of  State — Bronze  tablet  12x30  inches 
inserted  in  die  of  the  pedestal  to  the  column  looking  up 
State  street,  inscribed  :  "  This  is  Broadway  formerly  in  suc- 
cession Handelaers  or  Traders,  Court  and  Market  street." 

47 


Tablet  No.  4— The  "  First  Patroon." 

A  bronze  tablet,  16x22  inches  placed  in  the  City  Hall, 
and  thereon  inscribed  : 

"  Killian  Van  Rensselaer,  the  Progenitor  of  the  Van 
Rensselaer  family  in  America,  was  a  Merchant  of  Amster- 
dam, Holland,  and  the  Original  Proprietor  and  first  Pa- 
troon of  the  Manor  and  Rensselaerwycke ;  Patent  Granted 
him  by  the  Dutch  Gov't  in  1629. 

"  The  following  year  he  bought  from  the  Indians  Lands 
lying  on  both  sides  of  the  Hudson  River  from  Baeren 
Island  to  Cohoes  Falls  and  Established  the  Settlement." 

Tablet  No.  5— The  Old  Dutch  Church. 

Located  in  the  Government  building  adjoining  No.  3,  to 
which  it  corresponds  in  outline,  material  and  size.  The 
inscription  reads: 

"  Opposite,  At  the  Intersection  of  these  Streets,  stood 
the  Old  Dutch  Church.  Built  1656.  Rebuilt  171 5.  Re- 
moved 1806.     Burial  Ground  around  it." 

Tablet  No.  6 — Lutheran  Church. 

Inserted  on  South  Pearl  street  face  of  the  City  building. 
Bronze  tablet,  16x22,  inscribed: 

"Site  of  the  First  Lutheran  church.  Built  1669.  Re- 
moved 1816.  Burial  Ground  around  it.  Between  this 
Spot  and  Beaver  Street,  flowed  Rutten  Kill." 

Tablet  No.  7 — First  English  Church. 

Located  in  the  walk,  near  the  curb,  north-west  corner  of 
Chapel  and  State  streets.  Bronze  tablet,  11x23  inches,  set 
in  the  top  of  a  granite  block  21x33  inches  square  and  16 
inches  high  above  the  sidewalk — will  have  a  slanting  top  to 
shed  water.     On  it  will  read  : 

"Opposite  in  middle  of  State  street  stood  the  First  Eng- 
lish Church  Erected  A.  D.  1715 — Removed  and  Rebuilt 
as  St.  Peter's  church  1803  on  next  corner  west.  Rebuilt 
1859-" 

Tablet  No.  8— Old  St.  Mary's. 

Bronze  tablet,  16x22  inches,  inserted  in  wall  of  present 
edifice  of  that  name  on  Pine  street.     Inscription  : 

48 


"Site  of  Old  St.  Mary's— Built  A.  D.  1797.  The  First 
Catholic  Parish  Church  in  Albany  and  second  in  the  State. 
The  entrance  directly  under  this  Tablet, 

"A  Second  Building  on  this  Same  Spot,  Facing  on 
Chapel  Street,  was  the  Original  Cathedral  of  this  Diocese." 

Tablet  No.  9 — First  Presbyterian  Church. 

Bronze  tablet,  16x22  inches,  inserted  in  the  wall  of  build- 
ing north-east  corner  of  Grand  and  Hudson  streets.  In- 
scribed thereon  : 

"Site  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church — Built  1763 — 
Removed  1796." 

Tablet  No.  10 — Schuyler  Mansion. 

Bronze  tablet,  16x22  inches,  inserted  in  front  of  wall 
inclosing  grounds  on  Catherine  street.  It  informs  the  be- 
holder that  there  stood  : 

"  The  Schuyler  Mansion — Erected  by  General  Brad- 
street,  1762.  Washington,  Franklin,  Gates,  De  Rocham- 
beau,  Lafayette,  and  most  of  the  great  men  of  that  time 
were  entertained  here.  Gen's  Burgoyne  and  Reidesel  as 
guests — though  Prisoners  of  War  1777.  Alexander  Hamil- 
ton and  Elizabeth  Schuyler  Married  here  in  1780." 

Tablet  No.  11 — Fort  Frederick. 

Located  head  of  State  street,  in  sidewalk,  near  the  curb 
on  lower  edge  of  Capitol  Park — Bronze  tablet,  11x23 
inches,  set  in  granite  block  similar  to  No.  7.     Inscription: 

"  Facing  the  River  on  an  Eminence  in  this  Broad  street 
opposite  St.  Peter's  Church  Stood  Fort  Frederick.  Built 
about  1676 — Removed  1789.  Gallows  Hill  to  the  South — 
Fort  Burial  Ground  to  the  North," 


Tablet  No.  12 — Philip  Livingston. 

Bronze  tablet,  16x22  inches,  inserted  in  Tweddle  build- 
ing over  Sautter's  apothecary  store.     Inscription  : 

"  Upon  this  Site  Philip  Livingston,  One  of  the  signers  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  Born  1716," 

49 


Tablet  No.  13 — Anneke  Janse  Bogardus. 

Bronze  tablet,  16x22  inches,  placed  on  front  door  pier  of 
State  Street  side  Farmers  and  Mechanics'  Bank.  Inscrip- 
tion : 

"  Upon  this  Corner  stood  the  House  Occupied  by,  and 
wherein  died,  Anneke  Janse  Bogardus,  1663,  The  Former 
Owner  of  Trinity  Church  property.  New  York." 

Tablet  No.  14 — The  Old  Lansing  House. 

Bronze  tablet,  11x23,  inserted  in  a  granite  block,  similar 
to  No.  7,  in  walk  in  front  of  the  present  house  at  Pearl  and 
Columbia  streets.     Inscription  : 

"  Built  1 7 10 — Known  for  68  years  as  the  Pemberton 
Corner — a  Trading  House  outside  of  the  Stockade." 

Tablet  No.  15 — Oldest  Building  in  Albany. 

Located  in  south-east  corner  of  State  and  North  Pearl 
streets — Bronze  tablet,  16x22  inches,  inserted  in  Pearl  street 
wall  of  Staats'  house.     Inscription  : 

"  The  Oldest  Building  in  Albany — Built  1667.  Birth- 
place of  Gen.  Philip  Schuyler  And  Elizabeth  Schuyler,  wife 
of  Alexander  Hamilton — Adjoining  on  the  West  was  the 
Famous  '  Lewis  Tavern.'  South  Pearl  street  was  formerly 
Washington  Street  and  was  but  twelve  feet  wide,  having  a 
Gate  at  this  place." 

Tablet  No.  16— Old  Elm  Tree  Corner. 

Located  on  north-west  corner  of  State  and  North  Pearl 
streets — Bronze  tablet,  11x23  inches,  ^^  "^  granite  block, 
similar  to  No.  7,  placed  near  curb.      Inscription  : 

"  Old  Elm  Tree  corner — so  named  from  a  Tree  Planted 
here  by  Philip  Livingston  about  1735 — Removed  1877, 
Also  the  site  upon  which  were  Published  ^\'ebster's  famous 
Reading  and  Spelling  Book  and  Almanac  and  the  first 
Albany  Newspaper,  The  Albany  Gazette,  1771." 

Tablet  No.  17 — Vanderheyden  Palace. 

Bronze  tablet,  16x22  inches,  inserted  in  front  of  wall  of 
Perry  building.     Inscription  : 

"Site  of  Vanderheyden  Palace.  Erected  1725.  De- 
molished to  make  space  for  the  First  Baptist  Church, 
1833-" 

50 


Tablet  No.  i8 — Lydius  Corner. 

On  north-east  corner  of  State  and  North  Pearl  streets — 
Bronze  tablet,  16x22  inches,  inserted  in  Pearl  street  wall. 
Inscription  : 

"  Upon  this  Site  Stood  the  First  Brick  Building  said  to 
have  been  Erected  in  North  America.  Of  Material  Im- 
ported from  Holland  for  the  Rev.  Gideon  Schaet's  Par- 
sonage." 

Tablet  No.  19 — Washington's  Visit. 

Bronze  tablet,  16x22  inches,  inserted  in  Beaver  street 
wall  of  building  north-west  corner  of  Beaver  and  Green 
streets.      Inscription  : 

"  Site  of  Hugh  Denniston's  Tavern.  The  First  Stone 
House  in  Albany,  Where  Gen.  Washington  was  Presented 
with  the  Freedom  of  the  City  in  1782  and  1783.  It  was 
removed  During  the  Year  of  the  First  Cholera,  1832." 

Tablet  No.  20 — First  Theatre. 

Bronze  tablet,  16x22  inches,  placed  in  the  front  wall  of 
the  original  building,  the  present  Green  Street  Theatre. 
Inscription  : 

"  First  Theatre  Erected  in  Albany  Upon  this  Spot,  181 1. 
First  Theatrical  Representation  Given  (place  not  known) 
by  British  Officers  Quartered  in  Albany,  1760,  During  the 
French  war.  The  First  Professionals  Played  at  the  Old 
Hospital,  Present  Site  of  Lutheran  Church,  Corner  of  Pine 
and  Lodge  Streets,  1769." 

Tablet  No.  21 — First  English  Schoolmaster. 

Located  on  the  High  School  building — Bronze  tablet, 
16x22  inches,  in  face  of  front  wall: 

"  The  Governor's  License  Granted  Unto  John  Shutte 
for  Teaching  of  the  English  Tongue  at  Albany:  Whereas, 
The  Teaching  of  the  English  Tongue  is  necessary  in  this 
Government,  I  have  therefore  thought  fitt  to  give  Lycence 
to  John  Shutte  to  be  the  English  Schoolmaster  at  Albany. 
And  upon  Condition  that  the  said  John  Shutte  shall  not 
demand  more  Wages  from  Each  Scholar  than  is  custom- 
arily given  by  the  Dutch  to  their  Dutch  Schoolmasters.     I 

51 


have  further  granted  to  the  said  John  Shutte  that  hee  shall 
bee  the  only  English  Schoolmaster  at  Albany.  Given 
under  my  hand  at  Fort  James  in  New  York  the  12th  day  of 
October,  1665. 

RICHARD  NICOLLS,  Governor." 

Tablet  No.  22 — Foxen  Kill. 

Bronze  tablet,  16x22  inches,  in  southern  wall  of  building 
north-west  corner  of  Canal  and  North  Pearl  streets.  In- 
scription : 

"  Foxen  Kill — Ancient  Water  Course  flowing  in  Early 
Times  to  the  River — Now  Arched  Over.  This  is  Canal, 
Formerly  Fox  Street." 

Tablet  No.  23 — Beaver  Kill. 

Bronze  tablet,  11x23  inches,  set  in  granite  block  in  side- 
walk, near  curb,  similar  to  No.  7,  corner  of  South  Pearl  and 
Arch  streets.     Inscription  : 

"  Beaver  Kill — Ancient  Water  Course  flowing  to  the 
River  now  Arched  Over.  Buttermilk  Falls  in  the  Ravine 
to  the  West." 

Tablet   No.    24 — City    Gate    where    News   of  Burning  of 
Schenectady  was  Received. 

Bronze  tablet,  24x32  inches,  in  face  of  north  wall  of 
American  Express  building,  at  Broadway  and  Steuben 
streets      Inscription  : 

"  Near  this  Spot,  a  little  to  the  East,  Stood  the  North- 
East  Gate  of  the  City — Here  it  was  that  Simon  Schermer- 
horn,  at  five  o'clock  in  the  Morning,  'die  Sabbithi,'  Feb- 
ruary g,  1690 — Himself  Shot  in  the  Thigh  and  His  Horse 
wounded — After  a  Hard  Ride  in  the  Intense  Cold  and 
Deep  Snow,  By  the  Way  of  Niskayuna,  Arrived  with  just 
Enough  Strength  to  Awaken  the  Guard  at  the  Gate  and 
Alarm  the  People  of  Albany  with  the  News  that  Schenec- 
tady was  Burning  and  the  Inhabitants  Being  Murdered — 
Simon's  Son,  Together  with  His  Three  Negroes,  was  Killed 
on  that  Fatal  Night  by  the  French  and  Indians.  Simon 
went  to  New  York  soon  after  and  Died  There,  1696.  To 
the  North  was  the  '  Old  Colonic  '  and  the  Road  to  the 
Canadas — Through  this  Gate  in  their   Departure   for  the 

52 


North  Passed  the  Many  Detachments  of  Troops  Rendez- 
voused Here  at  Albany.  The  Remains  of  Lord  Howe 
were  Brought  Back  this  Way  and  Burgoyne  Returned  a 
Prisoner." 

Tablet  No.  25 — Manor  House,  Albany. 

Bronze  tablet,  11x23  inches,  set  in  granite,  same  as  No. 
7,  near  the  present  business  office  of  the  Van  Rensselaers, 
west  side  Troy  road,  or  Broadway,  at  that  point.  Inscrip- 
tion : 

"  Opposite  Van  Rensselaer  Manor  House.  Erected, 
1765.  Residence  of  the  Patroons.  This  Spot  is  the  Site 
of  the  First  Manor  House." 

Tablet  No.  26 — Johannes  Van  Rensselaer. 

In  bronze,  7x16  inches,  set  in  the  wall  of  the  original 
mansion  on  the  Greenbush  banks.     Inscription  : 

"  This  Manor  House,  Built  by  Johannes  Van  Rensselaer, 
1642." 

Tablet  No.  27 — Joel  Munsell. 

Bronze  tablet,  16x22  inches,  set  in  old  gable  building, 
Nos.  58  and  60  State  street.     Inscription : 

"  In  gratitude  to  Joel  Munsell,  printer,  of  Albany,  who, 
a  native  of  Massachusetts,  did  more  than  all  other  men  to 
preserve  the  Ancient  Records  of  his  adopted  city.  Born 
1808 — Died  1880.  This  is  the  spot  where  he  begun  his 
earliest  work." 

Tablet  No.  28— North-West  Gate. 

Bronze  tablet,  9x13  inches,  set  in  building  occupied  by 
Johnston  &  Reilly,  North  Pearl  street.     Inscription  : 

"  Here  Stood  the  Northwest  Gate  of  the  city.  On  this 
Spot  De  Witt  Clinton,  the  Projector  of  the  Great  Erie 
Canal,  Died  February  11,  1828." 

Tablet  No.  29 — The  North-East  Gate. 

Bronze  tablet,  11x23  inches,  in  a  granite  block,  similar 
to  No,  7,  in  the  walk,  near  the  curb,  in  front  of  Van  Ben- 
thuysen's  Printing  and  Publishing  House  on  Broadway. 
Inscription : 

53 


"  On  the  northeast  corner  of  Broadway,  then  Court 
street,  and  Hudson,  then  Spanish  street,  stood  the  Second 
City  Hall,  Erected  1705,  in  which  the  Famous  Congress  of 
1754  Met  and  Prepared  a  Union  of  the  Several  Colonies 
for  Mutual  Defense  and  Security.  The  Southeast  Gate  of 
the  City  stood  in  Front,  to  the  south  of  the  City  Hall.  To 
the  north  of  this  Spot  a  Bridge  crossed  the  Rutten  Kill,  and 
on  this  Ground  was  the  house  where  lived  Peter  Schuyler, 
the  first  and  for  sixteen  successive  years  Mayor  of  this  City." 

Tablet  No.  30 — First  Methodist  Church. 

Bronze  tablet,  16x22  inches,  placed  in  wall  of  building 
south-east  corner  of  North  Pearl  and  Orange  streets.  In- 
scription : 

"  On  this  southeast  corner  of  Orange  and  North  Pearl 
Streets,  was  Erected  the  first  Methodist  Church  1792." 

Tablet  No.  31 — Academy  Park. 

Bronze  tablet,  11x23  inches,  inserted  in  granite  block, 
similar  to  No.  7,  placed  in  Academy  Park.     Inscription  : 

"  On  this  Ground  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States 
was  Ratified  in  1788.  In  1856  the  Dedicatory  Ceremonies 
of  the  Dudley  Observatory  and  in  1864  the  Great  Army 
Relief  Bazaar  were  held  Here." 

Tablet  No.  32 — Washington  Avenue. 

Bronze  tablet,  7x16  inches,  placed  on  corner  of  Capitol 
building.      Inscription : 

"  Washington  Avenue,  formerly  King,  then  Lion  Street." 

Tablet  No.  33 — Hamilton  Street. 

Bronze  tablet,  7x16  inches,  corner  building  at  Hamil- 
ton and  Pearl  streets.     Inscription  : 

"  Hamilton  Street  formerly  Kilbey  Lane." 

Tablet  No.  34 — Dean  Street. 

Bronze  tablet,  7x15  inches,  in  Government  building  cor- 
ner State  and  Dean  streets.     Inscription  : 
"  Dean  Street,  formerly  Dock  Street." 

54 


Tablet  No.  35— State  Street. 

Bronze  tablet,  7x16  inches,  on  old  Museum  corner.  In- 
scription : 

"  State  Street,  formerly  Yonkers,  or  Gentlemen's  Street." 

Tablet  No.  36 — James  Street. 

Bronze  tablet,  7x16  inches,  on  Mechanics  and  Farmers' 
Bank,     Inscription : 

"  James  Street,  formerly  Middle  Lane." 

Tablet  No.  37 — Eagle  Street. 

Bronze  tablet,  7x16  inches,  on  corner  building  State  and 
Eagle  streets.     Inscription  : 

"  Eagle  Street,  formerly  Duke  Street." 

Tablet  No.  38 — Exchange  Street. 

Bronze  tablet,  7x16  inches,  north  side  of  Government 
building.      Inscription : 

"  Exchange  Street,  formerly  Mark  Lane." 

Tablet  No.  39 — Norton  Street. 

Bronze  tablet,  7x16  inches,  north  side  of  Beaver  block. 
Inscription : 

"  Norton  Street,  formerly  Store  Lane." 

Tablet  No.  40 — Franklin  Street. 

Bronze  tablet,  7x16  inches,  corner  Franklin  and  Madi- 
son avenue.     Inscription  : 

"  Franklin  Street,  formerly  Frelinghuysen  Street." 

Tablet  No.  41 — Clinton  Avenue. 

Bronze  tablet,  7x16  inches,  corner  North  Pearl  street. 
Inscription : 

"  Clinton  Avenue,  formerly  Patroon  Street — North  of 
this  Street  was  the  '  Old  Colonic.'  " 

Tablet  No.  42 — Monroe  Street. 

Bronze  tablet,  7x16  inches,  south  side  of  Dutch  Re- 
formed Church.     Inscription : 

"  Monroe  Street,  formerly  VanSchaick  Street." 

55 


Mr.  McClure,  from  the  Special  Committee  on  Re- 
ligious Services,  offered  the  following  propositions, 
which  were  adopted : 

"  First.  That  in  each  church  in  the  city  on  Sun- 
day, July  1 8,  there  be  made  acknowledgements  of 
God's  mercy  in  the  past,  of  our  imperfections  and 
sins,  and  prayers  for  future  blessings. 

"Second.  That  each  denomination  arrange  for 
such  Union  Memorial  service  of  that  denomination 
and  at  such  time  as  it  deems  best. 

"  Third.  That  the  Mayor  and  Common  Council 
be  invited  to  these  Union  Memorial  services."  It 
was  the  opinion  of  the  meeting  that  the  Mayor  and 
Common  Council  might,  in  addition  to  the  Union 
Memorial  service  of  each  denomination,  semi-offici- 
ally  designate  St.  Mary's  or  the  Cathedral  in  the 
morning,  the  First  Reformed  in  the  afternoon  and 
St.  Peters  in  the  evening,  as  the  churches  where  the 
municipality  would  be  officially  represented  at  the 
services. 

Friday,  July  23,  1886,  was  eliminated  from  the 
programme,  and  the  Trades'  Parade  was  transferred 
to  Monday,  the  19th  of  July. 

June  17,  1886.  The  Chairman  announced  receipt 
of  the  following  letter  of  acknowledgment : 

The  Hague,  Holland,  May  21,  1886. 
Honorable  A,  Bleecker  Banks,  Mayor: 

Dear  Sir — With  many  thanksgivings  for  the  invitation 
to  participate  in  the  festivities,  which  the  city  of  Albany 
intends  to  celebrate  for  the  occasion  of  its  two  hundredth 
anniversary,  we  are  obliged  to  express  you  our  regret  of 
being  prevented  to  assist  at  the  festival  on  the  2 2d  July 
next.     Nevertheless,  it  may  be  permitted  to  us,  to  congrat- 

56  '■ 


ulate  you  heartily  in  the  name  of  the  Common  Council  and 
the  inhabitants  of  The  Hague,  with  the  happy  occurrence, 
and  to  speak  out  the  wishes  for  your  continually  flourishing 
city  and  its  magistrates. 

The  Burgomaster. 

The  appointment  of  and  acceptance,  by  the  Right 
Rev.  William  Croswell  Doane,  Bishop  of  Albany,  as 
Chaplain  of  Bi-centennial  Day,  was  reported  and 
accepted. 

June  24,  1886.  The  Committee  on  Bi-centennial 
Flag  presented  a  copy  of  the  design  together  with 
the  following  explanatory  report: 

Float  it  on  the  Outer  Walls. 

Accurate  description  and  cut  of  the  Bi-centennial 
flag: 

A  heraldic  representation  of  the  political  and  dy- 
nastic history  of  Albany  for  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
nine  years. 

The  Bi-centennial  flag  represents,  heraldically,  in 
combination,  the  political  and  dynastic  history  of 
Albany  for  two  hundred  and  seventy-nine  years. 

There  are  six  flags  shown.  The  first  is  the  na- 
tional ensign  of  the  United  Provinces  of  the  Nether- 
lands as  the  same  was  adopted  in  1582,  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  William,  the  first  prince  of  Nassau.  It 
consisted  of  orange,  white  and  blue,  arranged  in 
three  equal  horizontal  stripes. 

Henry  Hudson  was  an  English  mariner  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Dutch  East  India  Company,  and  floated 
its  flag  when,  in  1609,  he  visited  the  site  now  known 
as  Albany.     It  was  the  flag  of  the  Netherlands,  with 

57 


the  letters  A.  O.  C.  in  the  centre  of  the  white  stripe, 
the  letters  standing  for  the  words  "Algeemene  Oost 
Indies  Compagnie,"  "  The  General  East  India  Com- 
pany;"  and  that,  presumably,  was  Albany's  flag  until 
1622,  when  the  government  of  the  colony  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  "  Gooctroyeerde  West  Indies  Com- 
pagnie," "  The  Privileged  West  India  Company," 
whose  flag  was  the  national  ensign,  with  the  letters 
G.  W.  C.  in  a  monogram  on  the  white  stripe  in  the 
place  and  stead  of  the  letters  A.  O.  C. 

After  the  death  of  William  (1650),  a  red  stripe 
was  substituted  for  the  orange  stripe  in  the  national 
colors  of  the  Netherlands.  So  in  the  Bi-centennial 
standard  the  two  flags  of  yellow,  white,  and  red, 
white  and  blue  represent  the  period  of  the  Dutch 
supremacy,  1 609-1664. 

As  all  the  flags  that  have  waived  over  Albany 
could  not  have  been  practically  shown  in  combina- 
tion, it  was  thought  advisable  to  give  the  preference 
to  the  national  ensigns.  So  the  flags  of  the  Nether- 
lands, proper,  was  used,  and  not  those  of  the  Dutch 
India  companies. 

The  Patroons  had  a  flag,  but  no  research  or  in- 
quiry among  the  Van  Rensselaers  of  to-day  could 
give  its  details. 

The  white  flag  in  the  first  quarter  is  the  municipal 
flag,  a  white  field  with  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  city 
emblazoned.  The  arms  were  copied  from  the  earli- 
est known  drawing,  one  made  on  a  city  map,  bearing 
date  1790,  by  Simeon  De  Witt,  a  brave  revolution- 
ary officer  of  Washington's  staff,  and  were  evidently 
adopted  some  time  between  1785  and  1790. 

58 


The  flag  in  the  second  quarter  is  the  British  jack, 
as  it  then  appeared,  and  represents  the  period  of  the 
Enghsh  ascendency  from  1664  to  1776. 

It  is  commonly  called  the  Union  Jack,  from  James 
I  (Jacques).  The  national  ensign  of  England  was 
the  banner  of  St.  George,  a  red  cross  on  a  white 
field,  and  that  of  Scotland  was  the  banner  of  St. 
Andrew,  a  silver  St.  Andrew's  cross  in  a  blue  field. 
On  the  union  of  the  two  crowns,  James  I  issued  a 
proclamation  that  "  all  subjects  of  this  isle  and  the 
kingdom  of  Great  Britain  should  bear  in  the  main 
top  the  red  cross,  commonly  called  St.  George's 
cross,  and  the  white  cross,  commonly  called  St.  An- 
drew's cross,  joined  together  according  to  the  forms 
made  by  our  own  heralds." 

The  banner  of  St.  Patrick,  a  soltaire  gules  on  a 
field  argent,  was  not  added  until  after  the  union  in 
1 80 1.  The  third  quarter  contains  the  jack  of  the 
colonial  flag,  known  as  the  flag  of  New  England  in 
America. 

It  is  the  red  cross  of  St.  George,  with  a  globe, 
showing  a  piece  cut  out,  representing  a  new  hemi- 
sphere discovered.  The  flag  was  blue.  The  colonial 
flag  was  adopted  some  time  subsequent  to  1688, 
when  James  II,  formerly  the  Duke  of  York,  annexed 
to  the  government  of  the  New  England  colonies,  the 
Provinces  of  New  York  and  East  and  West  New  Jer- 
sey, with  the  territories  thereto  belonging,  when  all 
for  a  time  were  known  as  New  England  in  America. 
This  flag  is  sometimes  represented  with  a  pine  tree 
in  the  place  of  the  globe. 

The  fourth  quarter  proper,  in  order  of  time  and  in 

59 


heraldry,  is  the  jack  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  a  white 
star  for  each  State,  in  a  blue  field,  representing  a  new 
constellation  found. 

Thus,  we  have  in  Albany's  Bi-centennial  standard 
of  1886,  the  flags  of  the  Dutch  Netherlands  binding 
together  the  city,  the  British,  colonial  and  union 
periods. 

All  the  flags  are  not  represented.  There  were 
others  of  special  design  used  by  the  colony  for  lim- 
ited periods,  rare,  curious  and  interesting,  but  not 
properly  within  the  scope  and  design  of  the  Bi- 
centennial standard.  It  was  neither  practicable  nor 
within  the  funds  of  the  committee  to  add  special  and 
local  colors  of  no  political  significance,  and  thus  only 
the  national  flags  were  used. 

The  flags  are  printed  on  a  very  fine  quality  of 
cambric,  in  fast  colors. 

The  staff"  is  hickory,  with  a  carved  spear-head  on 
the  end. 

It  was  not  deemed  practicable  to  print  them  on  silk. 
The  silk  manufacturers  would  not  bother  with  it,  and, 
as  a  matter  of  fact,  it  was  extremely  difficult  to  get 
them  printed  on  anything.  The  expense  of  a  silk 
flag  was  entirely  beyond  the  finances  of  the  com- 
mittee, and,  when  completed,  they  would  not  be  of 
much  service  for  outside  decoration,  for  the  wind 
would  tear  a  silk  flag,  the  sun  would  make  it  fade, 
and  the  rain  would  cause  the  colors  to  run. 

The  committee  has  wisely  determined  to  place 
these  flags  within  the  reach  of  all.  It  has  placed  the 
nominal  figure  of  two  dollars  each  on  them,  so  that 
no  person  could  consider   himself  too    poor   to  add 

60 


his  mite  to  the  funds  now  being  raised  by  the  Citi- 
zens' Committee  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  com- 
ing celebrations. 

The  citizen  that  floats  on  his  outer  walls  the  ban- 
ner of  the  Bi-centennial  will  bear  witness  to  the  world 
that  he  is  public  spirited,  liberal,  full  of  love  for  his 
native  town,  and  a  contributor  in  money  to  the  suc- 
cess of  the  celebration  of  the  two  hundredth  anni- 
versary of  the  granting  of  the  charter  to  the  city  of 
Albany. 

Resolutions  were  adopted  requesting  the  Schuy- 
ler family  to  loan  to  the  Bi-centennial  Commission 
the  original  portrait  in  oil  of  Peter  Schuyler,  the  first 
Mayor  of  the  city  of  Albany ;  and  for  the  pur- 
chase of  two  gold  medals,  to  be  presented,  one  to 
the  orator  and  one  to  the  poet  of  the  Bi-centennial 
exercises. 

The  following  communication  was  read  : 

The  Hague,  Holland,  June  15,  1886. 
Hon.  a.  Bleecker  Banks,  Mayor  : 

Sir — It  is  with  much  pleasure  that  we  beg  to  inform  you 
by  these  presents  that  Dr.  T.  Bloom  Coster,  M.  D.,  one  of 
the  most  distinguished  citizens  and  physicians  of  our  town, 
intends  to  pay  a  visit  to  Albany,  at  the  jubilee  of  that  city 
on  the  2 2d  of  July  next.  Having  requested  him  to  be  the 
interpreter  of  the  sincere  wishes  the  Hague  and  her  Magis- 
trate entertain  for  the  prosperity  and  welfare  of  your  flour- 
ishing and  thriving  city,  we  have  the  honor  of  introducing 
Dr.  Bloom  Coster  to  you  in  that  quality,  and  recommend 
him  to  your  kind  reception. 

We  are,  sir,  your  most  sincere  servants. 

The  Burgomaster. 

The  Town  Clerk. 

Also  acknowledgment  and  acceptance  of  the  com- 
61 


mittee's  invitation  of  the  Hon.  Robert  A.  Maxwell, 
State  Superintendent  of  Insurance. 

State  of  New  York  Insurance  Department,      » 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  June  24,  1886.  ) 
Hon.  A.  Bleecker  Banks, 

Ex-]yiayor  and  Chairman  of  the  Citizens'  Bi-centen- 
nial  Committee  : 
Dear  Sir — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  kind  invitation  to  participate  with  the  Governor, 
Lieutenant-Governor  and  State  officers  in  the  celebration, 
on  the  2  2d  of  July  next,  of  the  two  hundredth  anniversary 
of  the  granting  of  the  charter  of  the  city  of  Albany  by 
Governor  Thomas  Dongan,  and  take  great  pleasure  in 
accepting  the  same. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

R.  A.  Maxwell. 

Also  from  L.  W.  Winchester,  Colonel  of  the 
Veteran  Corps  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  National 
Guards,  S.  N.  Y.,  New  York  city,  acknowledging 
the  receipt  of  the  invitation  to  participate  in  the 
celebration.     Also  the  following: 

The  Holland  Society  of  New  York,      ^ 
New  York,  June  22,  1886.  ) 
Mr.  James  H.  Manning, 

Cor.  Secy.  Albany  Bi-centennial  Committee : 
My  Dear  Sir — At  a  meeting  of  the  Holland  Society  of 
New  York,  held  June  15,  1886,  it  was  resolved  that  this 
society  will  accept  the  invitation  so  cordially  extended  to 
us  in  your  favor  of  June  14.  Judge  Hooper  C.  Van  Vorst, 
address.  County  Court  House,  New  York,  and  Abraham 
Van  Santvoord,  55  Broadway,  New  York,  were  appointed 
a  special  committee  to  represent  us,  with  as  many  of  the 
members  as  may  be  able  to  attend  your  celebration. 
Yours  cordially, 

George  W,  Van  Siclen, 

Secretary. 

62 


The  Committee  on  Medals  presented  the  design 
that  had  been  adopted.  The  scene  represents  Gov- 
ernor Dongan  seated  at  his  desk  with  Livingston  at 
his  right  and  Schuyler  at  his  left,  and  is  founded  on 
the  statement  of  the  initial  pages  of  our  city  records 
that  Livingston  and  Schuyler  went  to  Nei^  York  for 
the  city  charter.  Livingston  was  the  son  of  a  Scotch 
minister  and  was  then  about  thirty  years  of  age.  He 
is  represented  in  Puritanical  dress.  Schuyler  is  at- 
tired in  military  costume.  Dongan's  hat  and  sword 
hang  on  the  wall  near  the  old-fashioned  clock.  The 
seal  of  the  city  and  the  inscription  "  In  memory 
of  the  two  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  city  of 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  1886,"  are  represented  on  the  other 
side.  They  recommended  that  the  medals  be  put 
on  sale,  the  white  metal  for  twenty-five  cents  and  the 
bronze  for  one  dollar  each. 

July  I,  1886.  The  following  order  of  exercises 
was  adopted  for  opening  the  celebration : 

Order  of  Exercises. 

In  ye  matter  of  ye  solemn  Proclamation,  ye  free- 
dom of  ye  citty  to  ye  Inhabitants  of  divers  parts 
who  shall  or  may  assemble  at  ye  Ancient  gates  of  ye 
citty  of  Albany,  on  Monday,  ye  nineteenth  day  of 
July,  1886,  to  make  rejoicing  with  ye  Inhabitants  of 
ye  sd  citty  for  ye  celebration  of  ye  200th  anniversary 
of  ye  Charter,  it  hath  been  determined  : 

First.  That  ye  sd  publication  be  done  at  nine 
o'clock  of  ye  morning  on  ye  said  nineteenth  day  of 
July,  with  all  due  ceremonial  by  ye  Mayor,  Alder- 
men and  Commonalty  of  ye  citty  of  Albany. 

63 


Second.  Yt  ye  sd  Ceremonial  shall  be  conducted 
according  to  ye  established  usage  of  this  Antient 
citty  as  doth  appear  in  ye  official  Records  of  ye  same. 

Third.  Search  being  mayde  in  ye  minutes  of  ye 
Affayres  of  ye  sd  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty 
of  ye  citty  of  Albany  showeth,  yt  on  ye  13th  day 
of  January,  1689  (O.  S.),  proclamation  was  made 
against  divers  seditious  persons  claiming  authority 
fromm  one  Captain  Jacob  Leisler,  of  N.  York,  (un- 
lawfully usurping  ye  govt,  of  their  Ma'ties  William 
and  Mary)  in  the  which  proceeding  it  doth  appear  in 
ye  said  minutes,  as  follows : 

The  Mayor  with  ye  Recorder  and  Aldermen,  and  ye 
Justices,  and  ye  Common  Council,  marched  from  their 
Majesties  Fort  (The  Marshall  going  before  with  a  White 
Rod)  accompanied  with  diverse  of  ye  Ancient  Citizens 
with  a  guarde  of  Fifty  Inhabitants  in  anns.  The  Mayor 
as  ye  king's  Leift,  together  with  ye  Recorder,  Alderman 
Shaik  and  Captain  Marte  Gerritse,  Justice  of  ye  Peace,  as 
soon  as  they  came  within  ye  Citty  Gates,  went  with  their 
Swords  Pointed  :  Then  followed  ye  other  Aldermen,  and 
Justices  and  Common  Council,  and  Sundry  Citizens,  and 
then  the  Guards,  and  in  this  posture  with  Drumms  Beateing, 
came  to  ye  plain  before  ye  Church,  where  the  Bell  Rung 
thrice.  Then  ye  Mayor  made  a  speech  to  ye  Citizens, 
which  flokd  together,  showing  the  Reasons  why  he  came 
there  in  such  manner.  Then  ye  Protest  was  read  there  in 
English  and  Dutch.  This  being  done  they  all  went  in  ye 
same  Posture  through  ye  Principle  Streets  of  ye  Citty,  and 
So  up  to  ye  Fort,  where  ye  Guards  were  dismissed  and 
thanked  by  ye  Mayor,  ye  Present  Commander  of  ye  Fort 
for  ye  Service  they  had  done  their  Majesties  King  William 
and  Queen  Mary  that  day,  and  ye  Protest  sent  by  ye  Mar- 
shall to  be  affixed  at  ye  Porch  ye  Church. 

Fourth.  Wherefore,  in  obedience  to  ye  Ancient  and 
honorable  custom,  as  set  down  in  ye  Book  of  Minutes 

64 


aforesaid,  it  is  ordered  yt  ye  Manner  and  Posture  of 
ye  Procession  be  as  follows : 

ORDER   OF   YE   COMPANYE. 

1.  Ye  Constables  of  ye  Citty. 

2.  Ye  Crier. 

3.  Ye  Marshall. 

4.  Ye  Musicians  with  ye  Drumms  Beating. 

5.  Ye  Mayor  (with  Sword.) 

6.  Ye  Recorder  and  ye  Justices. 

7.  Ye  Aldermen  and  Common  Council. 

8.  Ye  Citizens'  Bi-centennial  Committee,  and  so 
many  of  ye  Commonalty  and  Ancient  Citizens  as 
shall  desyre. 

9.  Guard  of  Inhabitants  in  Arms. 

Fifth.  Ye  sd  persons  shall  assemble  at  ye  Citty 
Hall  at  half  past  eight  of  ye  Cloke  on  ye  Morning  of 
ye  sd  Monday,  ye  nineteenth  day  of  July,  and  when 
all  shall  have  been  duly  arranged  ye  Companye  shall 
proceed  to  ye  North-East  gate  of  ye  Citty,  where- 
upon ye  Fyre  Bells  shall  strike  three  times  after 
which  all  ye  Bells  of  ye  Citty  shall  be  rung  for  ye 
space  of  two  minutes,  and  after,  ye  Mayor  in  behalf 
of  ye  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  Citty 
of  Albany  shall  proclaim  ye  festival  of  ye  200th  an- 
niversary of  ye  Charter  begun,  and  shall  express  ye 
Satisfaction  and  Joy  of  ye  Inhabitants  for  ye  same, 
and  in  their  name  shall  offer  welcome  to  ye  strangers 
both  within  and  without  ye  sd  gate,  and  in  like  man- 
ner proceeding,  ye  Companye  shall  next  Goe  to  ye 
South-East  gate,  and  after  to  ye  West  gate  and  so 
back  to  ye  place  of  beginning. 

65 


The  sum  of  $2,000  was  appropriated  to  cover  the 
expenses  of  the  Military  Committee.  It  was  also 
resolved  that  all  persons  subscribing  the  sum  of  one 
dollar  or  upwards  to  the  All  Nations'  Day  Fund  be 
entitled  to  a  Bi-centennial  flag;  subscribers  to  the 
amount  of  $20,  two  flags  ;  subscribers  to  the  amount 
of  $50,  three  flags ;  subscribers  to  the  amount  of 
$100  and  over,  four  flags.  The  reporters  of  the 
various  city  papers  who  attended  the  meetings  of  the 
Citizens'  Committee  were  each  voted  a  flag,  medal 
and  memorial  card. 

The  following  communication  inclosing  a  subscrip- 
tion was  received : 

BoRELL  Building,  ) 

115  Broadway,  New  York,  i 

Hon.  John  Boyd  Thacher : 

Inclosed  I  send  you  my  check  for  $500,  to  be  expended 
in  your  discretion  upon  the  occasion  of  the  celebration  of 
the  Bi-centennial  of  Albany. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

Edward  Van  Ness. 

July  TO,  1886.  The  following  communication  was 
received : 

Executive  Mansion,  ) 

Washington,  D.  C,  July  9,  1886.  i 
To  THE  Editors  of  Albany  : 

I  wish  I  could  claim  a  greater  interest  in  the  Bi-centennial 
of  the  charter  of  the  city  of  Albany.  I  mean  the  interest 
which  springs  from  long  residence  and  intimate  association. 
Confessing  that  I  cannot  lay  claim  to  either  of  these  inci- 
dents, which  produce  a  kind  of  proprietary  interest  in  a 
locality,  and  modestly,  though  reluctantly,  taking  my  place 
among  those  whose  relations  with  your  grand  old  town  are 
limited  to  a  short  period,  I  insist  that  no  man  of  my  class 
has  or  ought  to  have  more  pleasant  and  grateful  recollec- 
tions than  I  of  the  city  of  Albany  and  its  people.  I  entered 
the  city  a  stranger,  oppressed  with  the  fear  and  trepidations 

66 


incident  to  the  assumption  of  new  and  grave  official  responsi- 
bilities, I  found  strong,  staunch  friends  ready  to  counsel  and 
assist  in  my  performance  of  public  duty,  and  kind  friends 
anxious  by  their  considerate  courtesy  to  temper  and  relieve 
the  exactions  of  perplexing  labor.  Under  such  circum- 
stances, a  short  residence  gave  rise  to  an  attachment  which 
one  can  only  feel  for  a  hospitable  home.  Two  years  suf- 
ficed to  cause  me  to  leave  the  city  with  sincere  regret ;  and 
in  present  surroundings,  and  in  all  that  the  future  may  have 
in  store,  I  must  revert  to  the  time  I  lived  in  Albany  as  the 
happiest  period  in  my  life.  Others  will  speak  of  its  history, 
but  I  can  only  speak  of  my  pleasant  association  with  its 
present,  and  express  the  hope  that  in  every  centennial  time 
of  its  existence  there  may  be  found  many  whose  tribute  to 
what  it  is  may  be  as  sincere  as  mine. 

Yours,  very  truly, 

Grover  Cleveland. 

July  13,  1886.  Mr.  Parker,  from  the  Legislative 
Committee,  reported  and  presented  the  following 
address : 

Capitol,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  July  13,  1886. 

At  a  joint  meeting  of  the  Senate  and  Assembly  Com- 
mittees, appointed  by  the  Legislature  to  make  provisions 
for  the  suitable  representation  of  the  present  and  ex- Mem- 
bers of  the  Legislature  at  the  Bi-centennial  exercises  to 
take  place  in  the  city  of  Albany,  July  22,  1886,  it  was 
unanimously 

Resolved,  That  the  Senators  and  Members  of  the  present 
Legislature  and  all  previous  Legislatures  are  hereby  cordially 
invited  to  meet  the  committees  above-named,  at  the  Dela- 
van  House,  Albany,  Thursday,  July  22d,  at  9  a.m.  of  that 
day.  The  committee's  head-quarters  will  be  open  at  the 
same  place  on  the  previous  day. 

Senate  Committee. 
Amasa  J.  Parker,  Jr.,  John  Raines, 

J.  Sloat  Fassett,  James  F.  Pierce, 

Edmund  L.  Pitts. 

Assembly  Committee. 
James  W.  Huested,  George  L.  Erwin, 

George  S.  Batcheller,  Henry  D.  Hotchkiss, 

^1 


George  W.  Lyon,  Thomas  McCarthy, 

WiUiam  F.  Sheehan,  George  W.  Green, 

Michael  F.  ColUns,  Edward  D.  Cuder. 

July  15,  1886.  A  sub-committee  reported  arrange- 
ments had  been  effected  for  the  erection  of  a  grand 
stand  on  the  Capitol  grounds  opposite  the  City  Hall, 
capable  of  seating  twenty-five  hundred  persons. 

Mr.  Towner  offered  the  following  which  was  unani- 
mously adopted  by  a  rising  vote : 

The  Committee  on  Monumenting  and  Decorating  desire 
to  testify,  hereby,  to  the  efficient  services  of  their  Chainnan, 
Mr,  Walter  Dickson.  To  his  painstaking  archaeological 
researches,  industry  and  skill  in  design,  the  city  is  indebted 
for  the  accurate  location  and  architectural  beauty  of  the 
memorial  tablets  which  well  serve  to  recall  the  Bi-centen- 
nial  celebration  long  after  the  festivities  of  the  week  have 
been  forgotten  and  those  who  have  participated  in  them 
have  passed  away. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Citizens'  Bi-centen- 
nial  Committee  are  hereby  tendered  to  Mr.  Walter  Dick- 
son as  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Monumenting  and 
Decorating. 

July  20,  1886.  A  communication  was  received,  as 
follows : 

Greystone,  Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  July  19,  1886. 

Gentlemen — I  have  to  thank  you  for  your  invitation  to 
assist  in  commemorating  the  two  hundredth  anniversary  of 
the  granting  of  a  charter  to  the  city  of  Albany.  I  regret  that 
I  cannot  be  personally  present  at  ceremonies  so  worthy  of 
your  ancient  and  renowned  municipality.  Albany  is  a  his- 
toric city,  and  has  long  occupied  a  prominent  place  in  the 
annals  of  the  State  and  nation.  It  was  the  scene  of  the 
early  struggles  which  determined  whether  the  colonization 
of  the  vast  country  tributary  to  it  should  be  of  a  Dutch  or 
English  type.  Albany  formed  a  centre  of  the  great  natural 
highways,  connecting  on  the  south  by  the  majestic  and 
placid  Hudson  with  the  Atlantic  ocean ;  on  the  north  by 
Lake  Champlain  with  the  waters  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and 

68 


on  the  west  by  the  great  plateau  that  stretches  to  Lake 
Erie.  It  thus  becomes  the  objective  point  in  military  oper- 
ations during  the  protracted  contests  for  supremacy  upon 
this  continent  between  England  and  France,  and  afterward 
between  England  and  the  rising  Republic  of  the  United 
States.  The  same  geographical  configuration  which  caused 
it  to  be  a  strategical  point  of  such  importance  made  it  after- 
ward the  gateway  of  a  continental  commerce.  It  was  Al- 
bany which,  twenty  years  before  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, was  the  seat  of  the  first  conference  looking  to 
the  formation  of  a  union  between  what  afterward  became 
the  Independent  States  of  America.  It  is  eminently  fit  that 
by  such  a  celebration  as  you  propose,  the  momentous  events 
with  which  Albany  has  been  associated  should  be  kept  in 
the  memory  of  the  present  generation  and  of  posterity. 

S.  J.  TiLDEN. 

THE     OPENING    OF    THE    BI-CENTENNIAL 
LOAN    EXHIBITION.— July  5,  1886. 

The  day  itself  was  all  that  could  be  desired,  and  a 
clear  sky  and  an  occasional  breeze  served  to  recon- 
cile all  as  far  as  possible  to  perfect  July  temperature. 

Shortly  before  nine  o'ctock,  the  regular  and  official 
celebration  of  the  day  was  initiated  by  the  Jackson 
Corps,  which  left  the  armory  on  Beaver  street  and 
proceeded  to  the  armory  of  the  Burgesses  Corps,  on 
Broadway.  The  Jackson  Corps  was  under  the  com- 
mand of  Major  Macfarlane,  and  numbered  forty-three 
muskets,  six  staff  officers  and  four  officers  of  the  line, 
a  total  of  fifty-three.  The  Burgesses  Corps,  com- 
manded by  Major  Van  Zandt,  presented  a  rank  of 
forty-six  muskets,  nine  staff  and  three  officers  of  the 
line,  in  all  fifty-eight.  The  two  companies  presented 
a  fine  appearance  as  they  proceeded  up  Broadway 
to  Livingston  avenue,  to  Ten  Broeck  street,  to  Clin- 
ton avenue,  to  Pearl  street,  to  State  street,  to  the  City 

69 


Hall.  Here,  the  customary  Fourth  of  July  exercises 
took  place. 

At  their  conclusion,  the  concourse  moved  to  the 
Academy  Park  where  the  Bi-centennial  Loan  Exhi- 
tion  was  to  be  opened.  -First  came  the  Albany  City 
band,  then  the  Jackson  Corps  escorting  the  Loan 
Commission,  Mr.  J.  Howard  King,  Chairman ;  J. 
Townsend  Lansing,  John  J.  Van  Valkenburgh,  Douw 
H.  Fonda,  Charles  Tracey,  Professor  Boss,  Samuel  B. 
Towner,  Henry  J.  Ten  Eyck,  W.  O.  Stillman,  James 
T.  Gardiner,  Geo.  D.  Miller,  W.  W.  Crannell,  Craig 
McClure,  Captain  Henry  Cushman  and  others. 

Then  came  Boring's  band  in  front  of  the  Burgesses 
Corps,  which  acted  as  escort  to  the  Mayor  and  Com- 
mon Council,  There  were  in  this  party.  Mayor 
Thacher,  accompanied  by  President  Patrick  McCann, 
Aldermen  Hitt,  Greagan,  Fleming,  Norton,  Klaar  and 
others,  preceded  by  City  Marshal  Thos.  H.  Crav^en. 

The  column  was  formed  on  Eagle  street,  right 
resting  on  State  street,  and  the  following  was  the  line 
of  march :  Eagle  to  State,  to  Swan,  to  Washington 
avenue,  to  Boys'  Academy. 

The  opening  exercises  of  the  Bi-centennial  Loan 
Exhibition  were  held  in  a  tent,  which  had  been 
erected  in  the  rear  of  the  academy.  Seated  on  the 
stage,  waiting  for  the  procession  to  arrive,  were  Mrs, 
Erastus  Corning,  Jr.,  Mrs.  Marcus  T.  Hun,  Mrs.  Gen. 
Farnsworth,  Mrs.  V.  P.  Douw,  Mrs.  Dr.  Bartlett, 
Mrs.  John  Boyd  Thacher,  Mrs.  Philip  Ten  Eyck, 
Mrs.  Jacob  H.  Ten  Eyck,  Mrs.  James  P.  Boyd. 

About  twelve  o'clock,  the  mayoralty  party  and  the 
Loan  Commission  arrived  at  the  tent  and  took  places 


70 


on  the  stage,  and  soon  after  the  exercises  opened  to 
an  audience  that  tested  the  capacity  of  the  enclosure. 
When  composure  reigned,  General  King,  Chairman 
of  the  Loan  Exhibition,  stepped  forward  and  said : 

The  exercises  will  now  commence  with  a  Bi-centennial 
march,  specially  composed  for  this  occasion  by  Mr.  Frank 
E.  Greene,  and  rendered  by  the  Philharmonic  Society,  a 
recently-organized  amateur  association,  of  which  we  are  all 
justly  proud,  and  whose  contribution  to  enhance  the  pleas- 
ures of  this  day,  is  now,  and  hereafter  will  always  be  most 
thoroughly  appreciated,  and  to  them  will  rightfully  belong 
the  honor  of  the  opening  act  of  what  we  hope  and  confi- 
dently believe  will  prove  a  glorious  celebration  of  our  city's 
2ooth  anniversary. 

After  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Wesley  R.  Davis,  General 
King  tl;en  addressed  Mayor  Thacher;  and  on  behalf 
of  the  commission,  turned  over  the  exhibition  to  the 
city. 

Mayor  Thacher,  in  response,  said : 

Mr.  King,  I  accept  this  work  so  wisely  initiated  and  so 
happily  completed.  As  Chairman,  and  acting  for  the  Bi- 
centennial General  Committee,  I  assume  control  of  the 
Loan  Exhibition,  and  for  myself  and  in  behalf  of  our  citi- 
zens, I  return  you  our  grateful  and  emphatic  acknowledg- 
ments for  the  efforts  you  and  your  skillful  associates  have 
made  in  gathering  into  one  convenient  reservatory  the  curi- 
ous relics  and  precious  memorials  of  many  ages.  You  have 
provided  us  Avith  a  pleasant  diversion  and  a  most  instruct- 
ive entertainment.  Believe  me,  sir,  we  cannot  forget  the 
patient  toil,  the  persistent  exploration  into  half- forgotten 
fields,  t'ne  sifting  discernment  and  the  tireless  energy  which 
have  distinguished  the  exertions  of  the  ladies  and  gentlemen 
forming  your  committee  and  which  shall,  henceforth,  raise, 
almost  beyond  the  reach  of  others,  the  standard  of  love's 
sweetest  labor  and  the  measure  of  the  most  exalted  gen- 
erosity. 

Citizens,  we  are  assembled  upon  historic  ground.  It  was 
here  in  the  second  month  of  the  year   1864  that  the  Army 

71 


Relief  Bazaar  was  opened.  Into  its  coffers  our  people 
poured  their  wealth  to  strengthen  and  maintain  the  noble 
work  instituted  by  the  Sanitary  Commission  of  the  war.  In 
1856,  this  place  witnessed  a  brilliant  scene.  The  benevo- 
lence of  a  few  men  and  of  one  woman  had  given  Albany  a 
watching-place  for  the  stars,  and  the  dedication  of  the  Dud- 
ley Observatory  was  celebrated  here  with  enthusiasm  and 
with  splendor.  Massachusetts  loaned  us  her  Everett,  and 
that  gifted  orator  bore  his  audience  up  into  the  heavens 
and  sustained  the  flight  for  two  fascinated  hours. 

In  1 83 1,  in  a  room  in  yonder  building  was  born  the 
electro-magnetic  telegraph.  When  Joseph  Henry  rang  a 
bell  over  a  wire  more  than  a  mile  in  length,  it  was  an  an- 
nouncement to  commerce  and  to  the  world  that  the  light- 
nings were  harnessed  and  were  ready  for  their  use.  Henry 
was  born  in  Albany,  received  his  education  in  that  building, 
there  carried  on  his  experiments  and  there  made  his  dis- 
covery. Surely  we  owe  the  memory  of  this  great  man  a 
mighty  tribute  and  a  brave  reward. 

On  the  26th  day  of  July,  1788,  the  State  Convention 
agreed  to  the  adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution.  Two 
weeks  afterwards,  our  city  signalized  the  event  with  the 
most  imposing  ceremonies  ever  known  in  America  up  to 
that  time,  and  which  even  now,  after  the  lapse  of  a  hundred 
years,  we  may  not  hope  much  to  surpass  during  our  Bi- 
centennial celebration.  The  procession  was  an  hour  and  a 
half  passing  a  given  point,  and  in  it  every  trade,  profession 
and  calling  was  represented,  while  our  best  citizens  patriot- 
ically molded  themselves  into  tableaux  upon  moving  floats. 
Where  we  now  are  was  the  climax  of  the  hill,  and  so  it  was 
of  their  eftbrts.  Here,  the  multitude  sat  down  and  feasted, 
drinking  innumerable  toasts  to  the  compact  of  the  States. 

It  was  here,  in  1689,  that  Jacob  Leisler's  assumption  of 
the  Governorship  of  New  York  was  rebuked  by  the  stub- 
born patriotism  of  the  burgers  and  the  fidelity  of  our  Indian 
allies.  Leisler  sent  his  son-in-law,  Milburne,  with  four  ships 
and  a  company  of  armed  soldiers  to  force  a  recognition  of 
his  authority  and  to  take  from  us  our  charter,  which  was 
declared  null  and  void,  because  granted  in  the  time  of  King 
James  the  II.  The  Mayor  was  shut  up  with  a  small  force 
in  Fort  Albany  at  about  the  point  where  St.  Peter's  Church 
now  stands.  Milburne  marched  up  to  the  fort  and  de- 
manded admission,  which  was  denied  him,  whereupon  he 

72 


prepared  to  fire.  Then  a  company  of  Mohawk  Indians, 
encamped  where  we  now  are,  sent  word  to  Milburne  that 
if  he  did  not  at  once  withdraw,  they  would  destroy  him  and 
his  men.  The  New  York  usurpers  retired  and  our  charter 
remained  safe  in  its  seal  and  in  its  integrity. 

So,  I  say,  the  spirit  of  historic  interest  inhabits  the  spot 
chosen  for  this  exhibition  and  it  is  our  duty  to  recall  its 
glories,  hallowed  as  they  are  by  charity,  dignified  by  benev- 
olence, immortalized  by  scientific  discovery,  made  sacred 
by  fidelity  and  patriotism,  and  now  in  these  latter  days 
dedicated  forever  to  the  great  cause  of  education  and  the 
advancement  of  learning. 

The  Mayor  introduced  the  poet,  Mr.  William  D. 

Morange,  who  read 

The  Poem. 

All  things  combining,  urging  and  inviting 
To  make  the  hour  auspicious  and  delighting  — 
The  gentle  cracker  and  the  tuneful  gun ; 
The  small  boy's  cannon,  bursting  with  its  fun ; 
The  drum  that's  beat  by  every  Jackey  Horner  ; 
Tiie  horn  that's  heard — or  taken  at  the  corner; 
The  gay  parades,  this  marvelous  display, 
This  courtly  audience  honoring  the  day, 
All  things  persuading,  prompting  and  inspiring 
The  intellectual  gun  to  do  some  firing — 
Here,  on  this  sweet  and  restful  day,  old  Time 
Comes  up,  to  be  put  down  in  prose  and  rhyme. 
Oh  !  that  the  men  of  vanished  days  could  see 
The  eager  present,  big  with  history, 
Debating  over  famous  spots  and  nooks 
Located  variously  in  various  books ! 
Oh  !  that  the  men  of  vanished  days  could  hear 
The  stories  of  the  past  that  now  appear  ! 

By  some  whose  minds  upon  the  past  are  bent. 

It  might  be  thought  in  order,  to  present 

On  this  occasion,  something  like  a  show 

Of  all  the  ])ast  we  read  about  or  know ; 

Great  Scrijiture  memories,  served  with  solemn  phrase, 

Allusions  to  the  classic  Roman  days, 

The  lives,  the  big  events,  the  joys,  the  tears, 

Comprised  within  our  past  two  hundred  years ; 

The  birth  of  empires  antl  their  vast  dissensions  ; 

Enormous  wars  and  wonderful  inventions ; 

The  strange  exploits  and  mysteries  of  crime 

Encompassed  by  that  period  of  time  ; 

Others  might  think  their  bounden  duty  lay, 

To  fairly  revel  in  a  mixed  display 

73 


Of  feathers,  beaver  skins  and  telephones, 

Cocked  hats,  mould  candles,  gas  and  cobble  stones, 

Steamboats,  old  wigs,  pipes,  krout  and  fancy  stitches, 

Flint  locks,  bows,  Gatling  guns  and  leather  breeches, 

Street  pumps  and  scalping  knives,  electric  lights. 

And  clubs  and  hatchets  used  in  various  fights, 

Including  clubs  that  in  these  times  of  peace 

Are  sometimes  used  by  our  discreet  police. 

And  so,  contrast  the  past  with  present  days. 

And  show  each  epoch's  various  whims  and  ways. 

Others,  again,  might  urgently  insist, 

On  filling  out  a  long  and  labored  list 

Ot  customs,  laws  and  facts,  from  Hudson  down. 

That  make  the  story  of  our  grand  old  town  ; 

The  style  of  Indian  and  the  things  they  wore. 

When  Hudson's  vessel  glided  to  the  shore  ; 

The  style  of  Dutchmen  that  prevailed,  when  fate 

Made  them  the  rulers  of  more  recent  date. 

And  ringing  through  the  hills  and  valleys  round, 

Old  Dutch  made  Indian  warwhoops  weak  in  sound. 

Others  might  want,  to  give  the  subject  life, 

Some  fiery  notes  of  Dutch  and  Indian  strife ; 

Some  thrilling  tales  of  those  long-buried  days 

When  old-time  water  earned  its  meed  of  praise; 

When  moving  proudly  to  the  river's  side. 

The  Halfmoon  people  mixed  their  drinks  with  pride. 

And  taught  the  Mohawks,  waiting  at  the  shore, 

Ideas  of  Indian  corn  not  known  before. 

Some  more  might  ask,  as  requisite  and  just. 

To  lift  our  glory  out  of  common  dust. 

All  things  pertaining  to  our  busy  past ; 

The  push  and  fire  that  made  us  grow  so  fast; 

A  business  record  of  the  changes  made 

In  churches,  burial  grounds  and  haunts  of  trade  ; 

The  truths,  the  fables  in  the  guise  of  truth. 

In  print,  or  whispered  of  our  city's  youth; 

The  sounding  titles  of  the  potent  race 

That  early  held  dominion  in  the  place ; 

The  lovely  women  and  the  daring  men ; 

All  lliese  might  tribute  claim  from  voice  and  pen; 

Have  genuine  interest  and  charming  power. 

Give  History's  garden  many  a  blooming  flower, 

But  well  may  wait  some  other  brilliant  hour. 

W^e  simply  celebrate  that  long  gone  time. 
When  stout  young  Albany  began  to  climb 
The  hill  of  fame;   to  note  that  famous  hour, 
When  clad  with  chartered  right  we  rose  to  power; 
To  glorify  the  date  we  won  our  name, 
Albeit  in  modern  style,  we  start  the  game 
With  great  display  and  many  a  sounding  word, 
A  little  while  before  the  thing  occurred. 

Two  hundred  years  ago,  that  is  to  say, 
'Twill  be  two  hundred  at  some  future  day, 


74 


One  Thomas  Dongan  —  famous  Irishman  — 
Bestowed  home  rule  on  Dutchmen,  and  Ijcgan 
The  chartered  town  now  here,  and  linked  his  name 
Forever  with  the  story  of  our  fame. 
To  found  great  cities,  was  a  cherished  thought. 
That  through  all  ages  mighty  wonders  wrought. 
Prophets  and  poets,  seers  and  gifted  men, 
Were  never  more  sublimely  known,  than  when 
On  bold  imagination's  rapid  wing, 
They,  o'er  the  living  present  hastening, 
Cleft  the  far  future,  and  with  proud  delight. 
Announced  some  dream  of  undeveloped  might ; 
Declared  some  spot  of  small  renown  to  be 
The  favored  choice  of  wond'rous  destiny. 
When  from  the  sparkling  and  majestic  tide 
That  fronts  our  town  the  shipmen  saw  with  pride 
The  scenes  of  marvelous  beauty  all  around  — 
The  pleasant  vales,  the  hills  with  splendor  crowned- 
Some  dreams  of  future  glory  must  have  marked 
The  quiet  region  where  they  disembarked. 
Well  might  they  bear  their  glowing  stories  back. 
Of  the  fair  place  that  charmed  them  in  their  track. 
And  tell  the  people  of  the  dams  and  dykes  — 
Van  Rensselaers  and  Schuylers,  and  Van  Dycks  — 
How  fame  and  fortune  hovered  round  these  parts, 
And  fire  with  eager  hope  their  souls  and  hearts. 

We  have  no  special  evidence  that  when 

The  tale  was  told  to  those  old  Holland  men, 

They  dreamed  what  empire  here  might  be  displayed. 

Or  held  it  other  than  a  place  of  trade  ; 

Vet,  ere  the  charter  came,  a  fort  was  here, 

A  church,  a  market,  lumber  mills,  and  beer. 

A  sketch  of  present  times,  although  the  place 

Has  changed  a  trifle  since  those  days  of  grace, 

As  those  who  recollect,  and  from  the  Dutch 

Bought  newspapers  and  ale,  cigars  and  such. 

Will  readily  concede,  when  looking  round. 

They  note  how  now  such  luxuries  abound. 

When,  as  the  gift  of  time,  our  charter  came, 

And  gave  the  watchword  for  our  future  fame. 

From  that  date  onward,  down  to  present  days. 

The  record  of  our  home  commands  our  praise. 

The  story  of  our  progress  may  not  show 

Impetuous  haste  —  these  days  might  call  it  slow  — 

But  all  along  our  line  of  march  there  comes, 

Now  through  the  noise  of  war  and  roll  of  drums. 

Now  through  the  days  of  peace  aud  quiet  hours. 

The  evidence  of  sterling  worth  and  powers. 

The  honest  traders  who  liegan  our  life. 

And  came  to  meet  the  club  and  scalping  knife, 

Wise  with  the  maxims,  habits  and  intent. 

That  through  all  ages  marked  their  own  descent. 

Brought  with  them  to  the  savage  solitude 


75 


A  stately  form,  a  friend  that  grandly  stood, 

Their  guest,  protector,  source  of  strength  and  might, 

Their  herald  to  true  glory  based  on  right ; 

Wearing  their  garb,  and  speaking  in  their  tongue, 

In  tones  that  through  all  later  times  have  rung; 

Bearing  the  legends,  grand  and  eloquent, 

"  In  Union  Strength" — "Taxation  by  Consent"  — 

"  Free  Right  to  Worship  God."     The  friend  I  see 

Was  civil  and  religious  liberty ! 

Intolerance  shadowed  not  with  gloomy  wing 

Our  early  soil,  nor  thrust  its  deadly  sting; 

Our  young  life  blood  of  progress  felt  no  death 

From  the  foul  poison  of  its  vampire  breath. 

Such  is  our  record,  though  our  title  be 

F'ort  Orange,  Beaverwyck  or  Albany ! 

Satiric  fancy,  dealing  with  our  past, 
Might  make  some  glory  hunters  stand  aghast, 
And  hardly  realize  our  claim  to  glory 
From  certain  features  noted  in  the  story. 

If  to  be  quaint  and  whimsical  in  plan, 

With  odd  streets,  staggering  like  a  drunken  man, 

Accord  but  strangely  with  the  proud  renown 

That  lights  a  classic  or  historic  town  — 

If  the  old  place,  a  hundred  years  ago, 

Might  lack  in  certain  things  we  moderns  know  — 

If  Holland  brick  in  clumsy  structures  piled. 

With  curious  roofs  fantastically  tiled, 

May  not  exhibit  Architecture's  throne 

With  all  the  wonders  later  tmies  have  shown  — 

If  to  be  hallowed  ground,  the  crimson  trace 

Of  grand  exploits  must  illustrate  the  place. 

And  the  immediate  soil  we  tread  must  bear 

Ensanguined  evidence — then  seek  elsewhere  ! 

But  if  to  be  the  teeming  source  of  power  ; 

The  fount  of  bold  device  that  rules  the  hour; 

The  theatre  of  wise  suggestive  plan 

And  schemes  of  blessing  unto  fellow-man  ; 

If  to  have  gloried  in  and  hailed  with  praise 

A  throng  of  heroes  since  the  early  days  ; 

If  martial  ardor  glowed  with  splendid  fire 

Compelling  even  foemen  to  admire; 

If  to  have  been  and  still  remain  to  be 

The  home  of  gentle  hospitality. 

Refinement,  lofty  aims  and  generous  hearts. 

The  patron,  lover,  friend  of  all  the  arts  — 

If  such  a  record  may  a  glow  impart 

To  local  annals  —  let  us  all  take  heart ! 

I  envy  not  the  man  whose  honest  glance 
Takes  in  our  past  —  war,  business  or  romance  — 
Our  martial  annals,  or  the  large  display 
Of  genius,  beauty,  serious  life  or  gay, 

7^ 


Who  cannot  recognize  all  through  our  story, 
Our  genuine  claim  to  real  substantial  glory. 

Here  our  great  Cooper  found  attractive  themes 
That  filled  his  speaking  page  with  glowing  dreams ; 
Here,  where  his  pungent  satire  grew  more  bright 
Our  Irving  gathered  flowers  of  rare  delight ; 
Here,  Franklin  for  the  first  time  promulgates 
The  plan  which  makes  us  now  United  States ; 
Here,  like  the  planets  circling  round  the  sun, 
Old  chivalry  took  light  from  Washington. 
And  gallant  Schuyler,  ardent  Lafayette, 
And  kindred  souls  familiar  moved  and  met. 
Here,  the  great  central  seat  of  power  and  law. 
Came  those  whose  just  renown  the  nation  saw ; 
The  men  of  splendid  rhetoric  and  brain. 
Whose  eloquence  could  every  heart  enchain. 
The  magnates  of  the  past,  whose  genius  shines 
And  later  history  brightens  and  refines. 
From  time  to  time  found  here  abiding  place. 
And  felt  the  charm  of  genuine  social  grace. 
I  need  not  make  a  catalogue  display. 
Nor  more  than  merely  mention  the  array 
Of  great  men,  of  our  own  or  other  nation, 
Who  found  old  Albany  a  pleasant  station  ; 
Nor  try  to  run  the  glorious  list  all  over 
From  George,  first  President,  to  later  Grover ; 
Nor  yet,  anticipating  history 
Complete  the  splendid  line  with  David  13. 

If  some  may  find  our  progress  too  sedate. 

Too  slow  and  tedious,  for  the  headlong  gait, 

Whirl,  fire  and  dash,  that  yields  such  sudden  birth 

To  younger  cities  on  our  western  earth  — 

Cool  judgment  still  may  find  a  deal  to  praise. 

In  what  the  cynics  call  our  old  Dutch  ways. 

We  are  no  longer  Dutch  in  power  or  name ; 

Our  acts,  not  lineage,  merit  praise  or  blame. 

New  men,  of  different  race  and  various  clan. 

The  Saxon,  Frenchman,  Scotchman,  Irishman, 

The  German,  with  the  down-east  Yankee,  rear 

Alike  the  standard  of  dominion  here  ; 

Urge,  coax  and  guide  us  on  with  rapid  pace, 

And  make  the  future  of  this  old  Dutch  place. 

For  what  old  Dutch  ideas  control  us  still  — 

Sound  judgment,  conscience,  prudence  and  right  will 

Thank  Heaven  !   and  may  the  kind  benignant  fates 

Arouse  and  strengthen  more  such  old  Dutch  traits! 

Time's  potent  finger  may  with  sudden  change 

Deck  other  spots  with  life  more  rare  and  strange, 

But  if  sedate  and  less  impulsive,  we 

Just  simply  waddled,  we  might  thankful  be. 

If  with  the  consciousness  that  things  begun. 

Exhibit  prudence,  justice,  right,  when  done  ! 

One  hundred  thousand  souls  go  far  to  prove 

That  progress  here  is  surely  on  the  move. 

77 


We  certainly  have  magnified  a  deal 

Since  here  tiie  Mohawks  eat  their  Indian  meal. 

And  spite  of  all  the  sneers  that  make  us  slow, 

The  fact  of  utterance  does  not  make  it  so. 

In  countless  traits,  we  justly  dare  to  stand 

The  peer  of  any  city  in  the  land ! 

In  one  thing  we  are  like  the  old  Dutch  people 

Before  the  days  of  banking-house  and  steeple; 

For,  through  the  forest  of  our  streets  and  houses, 

A  cunning,  savage  foe,  at  times  arouses 

The  thoughtless  settlers,  with  the  knives  and  axes 

We  moderns  learn  to  know  as  jobs  and  taxes. 

But  with  a  leader,  brave,  resolved  and  true. 

Who  knows  his  duty  and  who  dares  to  do. 

Like  him,  who  fills  with  grace  our  civic  chair. 

And  writes  his  title,  John  Boyd  Thacher,  Mayor  — 

Let  the  wild  Indians  come,  with  whoop  and  rattle. 

If  pluck  and  bravery  count,  he'll  win  the  battle  ! 

Now  take  our  city  all  in  all,  her  claim 

Is  large  and  just  for  past  and  present  fame. 

With  radiant  power,  the  glory  of  the  past 

Lights  up  the  present ;   present  days  will  cast 

New  radiance  on  the  future ;  and  when  time 

Shall  tell  in  careful  prose,  or  careless  rhyme, 

The  record  of  what  makes  our  claim  to  glory  ; 

One  splendid  feature  in  the  pleasant  story. 

Securing  praise,  inspiring  new  ambition. 

Will  be  the  fact  of  this  grand  Exhibition; 

This  noble  work,  inspired  by  cultured  thought, 

And,  fair  hands  helping,  to  perfection  brought. 

High  honor  to  the  ladies  and  the  men  ! 

To  Howard  King  —  our  King  —  yet  citizen  ; 

Our  SriLLMAN,  Mather,  Gardner,  Boss,  Ten  Eyck, 

And  all  the  earnest  throng  whose  aim  alike 

Has  been  to  honor  in  yon  spacious  hall 

Our  fine  old  city's  birthday  festival. 

Mr.  Leonard  Kip  was  then  introduced  and  de- 
livered 

THE    ORATION. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen — It  has  been  our  custom 
hitherto  to  improve  our  national  anniversary  with  no  stinted 
commendation  of  our  origin,  progress  and  resources.  We 
have  satisfactorily  reviewed  our  foreign  wars,  and  have 
learned  to  believe  that  every  battle  was  for  us  a  victor}^  and 
every  leader  upon  our  side  a  master  of  military  strategy. 
We  have  told  ourselves  that  all  our  soldiers  were  heroes  in- 
spired with  patriotic  fire,  and  that  all  against  whom  we  have 
ever   fought    were    minions    of  brutal    tyrants.     We    have 

78 


looked  into  our  congressional  halls,  and  recognized  in  our 
representatives,  marvels  of  unequaled  ability  and  learning ; 
and  we  have  noted,  in  their  settlement  of  foreign  difficulties, 
the  exhibition  of  wonderful  skill  and  acumen,  ever,  as 
through  some  kindly  fate,  working  for  our  sole  glory  and 
advancement.  And  this  has  come  about — we  somewhat 
modestly  admit — not  from  having  educated  in  ourselves  such 
unsurpassable  qualities,  but  simply  from  the  tendency  of 
our  free  and  independent  institutions  to  create  in  us  a  nation 
of  gifted  citizens,  adorned  with  attributes  of  valor  and  states- 
manship which,  in  the  nature  of  things,  could  not  be  expected 
to  grace  the  down-trodden  subjects  of  selfish  and  effete 
monarchies.  Such  has  always  been  our  pleasant  programme 
upon  this  day  ;  and  perhaps  its  exaggerations  need  not  too 
severely  be  scrutinized,  since  they  may  not  unlikely  tend  to 
evoke  a  patriotic  sentiment,  firm  in  the  idea  that  certainly 
no  sacrifices  of  life  or  fortune  could  be  too  great  if  made  in 
defense  of  such  incomparable  results  of  political  freedom. 

Now,  for  a  while,  we  change  our  method,  letting  the  great 
interests  of  the  nation  at  large  go  on  without  our  patronage, 
and  bringing  our  observation  down  to  the  more  limited  area 
of  our  city,  which,  with  good  reason,  has  chosen  this  day  to 
celebrate  a  striking  event  in  its  own  history.  It  happens 
that,  two  hundred  years  ago,  the  settlement  of  Albany 
gained  a  charter  and  became  invested  with  civic  dignities. 
To  us,  at  first  sight,  this  scarcely  seems  to  be  a  matter  worthy 
of  great  attention.  A  city  charter  is  merely  a  change  of 
government  in  what  has  previously  existed  safely  under  the 
shield  and  protection  of  a  larger  organization ;  and  hence 
it  gives  simply  the  power  to  conduct  municipal  operations 
under  a  different  and  generally  more  complicated  system. 
But  in  the  olden  days  a  city  charter  was  a  sacred  thing,  to  be 
long  and  earnestly  striven  for,  and,  as  sometimes  happened, 
to  be  attained  only  thiough  war  or  insurrection.  Towns 
grew  into  importance  and  shrank  back  again  into  obscurity 
without  having  been  deemed  worthy  of  the  honor  ;  other  and 
perhaps  smaller  towns  secured  it  only  by  valor  in  some  espe- 
cial cause,  or  as  a  reward  for  distinguished  political  services. 
The  giving  of  a  charter  was  as  the  sword  of  knighthood  laid 
upon  the  civic  shoulder — the  patent  of  its  nobility  —  the 
partial  release  from  feudal  tenures.  It  placed  the  city  more 
closely  beneath  the  protection  of  its  sovereign ;  it  gave  it 
what  did  not  then  always  exist,  the  right  to  protect  itself. 

79 


Its  streets  might  run  red  with  blood  in  contest  with  some 
rival  city ;  but  it  would  be  in  maintenance  of  its  vested 
privileges,  and  this  consciousness  alone  would  be  sufficient 
to  give  vigor  to  the  defense.  It  could  organize  civic  insti- 
tutions, with  fair  expectation  that,  under  the  protecting  segis 
of  the  charter,  they  would  become  permanent ;  and  it  could 
emblazon  its  arms  upon  its  flag. 

Naturally,  therefore,  it  could  not  fail  to  happen,  that 
almost  from  the  very  foundation  of  Albany — or  at  least  from 
the  earliest  time  when  it  began  to  be  apparent  that  it  had  a 
fair  promise  of  a  successful  future — ideas  of  civic  indepen- 
dence should  accompany  its  growth  and  color  its  aspirations. 
Its  original  settlers,  upon  leaving  Europe,  had  by  no  means 
cast  aside  their  traditions  or  affiliations;  why  should  not 
Albany  some  day  attain  the  dignity  of  older  cities  ?  And 
why,  in  fact,  should  it  not,  in  this  broad  land  where  every- 
thing was  of  such  rapid  growth,  reach  its  due  measure  of 
importance  with  yet  greater  celerity ;  so  that,  instead  of 
toiling  for  centuries  through  abject  vassalage,  it  could 
advance  with  speedy  pace,  and  even  in  a  single  generation 
attain  some  measure  of  dignity  and  self-government  ?  In 
the  beginning  a  mere  trading  post  upon  the  border  of  a 
manorial  estate,  it  had  been  held  in  something  like  feudal 
dependence,  under  a  crude  system  of  law,  tempered  only  by 
the  shadow  of  colonial  authority,  which,  centered  at  a  dis- 
tance, could  not  always  successfully  maintain  its  influence  or 
afford  protection.  Then,  set  apart  by  itself  and  a  semblance 
of  freedom  given  it,  it  was  still  somewhat  overborne  by  the 
authority  of  its  powerful  neighbor,  as  well  as  bound  by  olden 
tendencies  toward  consent  and  agreement,  if  not  entire  obe- 
dience. And  when  at  last  the  charter  was  bestowed,  and 
Albany  became  a  free  and  independent  city,  it  must  have 
been  with  much  self-satisfaction  and  complacency.  Those 
ancestors  of  ours  were  not,  by  nature,  unduly  given  to  open 
demonstration  of  their  feelings,  and  did  not, — as  far  as  we 
now  can  tell — hail  their  charter  with  fireworks,  processions 
and  pageantry.  But  all  the  same,  it  was  a  boon  for  which  in 
their  quiet  manner  they  greatly  rejoiced,  knowing  that  now 
they  could  stand  before  the  world,  as  did  their  ancestral 
cities  abroad,  free,  under  certain  necessary  restrictions,  to 
make  their  own  laws  and  endow  their  schools,  churches  and 
seats  of  learning,  and  in  many  ways  look  forward  to  assured 
prosperity  as  well  as  to  possible  commercial  importance. 

80 


And  now,  in  pleasant  memory  of  that  time,  we  open  our 
celebration  of  Albany's  Bi-centenary.  We  will  speak  about 
our  natural  resources ;  our  commerce  and  manufactures ; 
our  railroad  and  water  connections ;  and  we  will  give  out 
our  invitations  to  all  the  world  to  come  and  establish  frater- 
nal trade  with  us.  We  will  look  with  satisfaction  upon 
being  one  of  the  oldest  living  cities  of  the  thirteen  colonies. 
We  will  review  our  history,  and  point  with  pride  to  the  fact 
that  in  the  Revolution,  Albany  was  so  long  the  keystone  of 
the  contest,  the  critical  position  which,  if  once  lost,  would 
result  in  all  being  lost,  the  objective  point  for  the  possession 
of  which  two  armies  fought.  And  in  addition,  as  flowers 
to  a  feast,  we  have  here  collected  into  one  pleasing  museum 
the  treasures  of  our  homes,  to  exemplify  our  perception  of 
taste,  our  artistic  culture  and  our  veneration  for  the  past. 
Some  of  this  gathered  wealth  speaks  only  of  the  present, 
and  claims  no  other  recognition  than  for  its  beauty  and 
costliness.  As  such  it  is  welcome,  and  cannot  fail,  when 
rightly  considered,  to  prove  an  incentive  to  future  art.  And 
there  is  much  that  comes  to  us  redolent  with  sweet  sugges- 
tions of  the  past ;  with  richness  of  design  or  material  more 
or  less  perhaps,  or  possibly  with  no  especial  artistic  beauty 
at  all,  except  the  quaintness  which,  in  such  matters,  is  often 
beauty's  handmaid,  yet  none  the  less  of  priceless  value  to 
us,  since  each  piece  whispers  some  story  of  the  past.  That 
tarnished  lace — in  its  freshness  it  must  once  have  decked 
some  form  of  grace  at  the  Court  of  William  the  Silent. 
That  rusted  sword — it  must  have  been  drawn  for  the  faith 
in  the  army  of  Prince  Maurice.  That  old  stained  and 
worm-eaten  Bible — some  pale  brow  and  trembling  lips  may 
have  bent  over  it  for  the  last  time,  while  the  inquisitors  of 
Philip  stood  knocking  at  the  door  below.  That  capacious 
bowl — it  may  have  had  festive  groups  of  generals  and 
councilors  of  State  gathered  about  it,  as  they  drank  in 
rejoicing  for  some  victory  over  the  Spanish  army.  Is  it  not 
right  that  we  should  liold  these  relics  in  veneration  ?  They 
not  only  speak  to  us  about  the  past,  but  they  tell  us  that 
Albany  has  an  ancestry  in  art.  They  prove  to  us  that  those 
who  earUest  came  among  us  did  not,  in  canting  spirit, 
attempt  to  cast  away  all  beauty  from  their  lives,  but  that  it 
was  a  part  of  their  earnest  care  to  surround  themselves,  in 
their  new  relations,  with  pleasant  memories  of  the  days  gone 
by ;  to  the  intent,  perhaps,  that  when  their  shattered  for- 


;i 


tunes  were  repaired,  the  whole  sweet  past  might  be  restored 
in  all  its  power,  and  their  homes  again  bloom  with  the  ac- 
customed loveliness  and  refinement. 

But  when  the  heir,  who  at  his  majority  has  come  to  his 
estate  with  great  rejoicing,  would  wish  at  some  future  period 
to  celebrate  a  particular  epoch  in  his  life,  we  are  apt  to  ask 
what  should  be  the  incentive  to  the  new  festivities,  and  how 
far  they  may  be  justified  by  what  has  past  ?  What  has  been 
the  life  that  now  is  to  be  signalized  with  loud  acclaim,  what 
the  performance  of  its  early  promise,  and  what  its  influence 
upon  its  period  and  surroundings  ?  If  it  has  been  a  barren, 
profitless  life,  remarkable  only  for  its  duration,  wherein  should 
it  be  made  an  occasion  for  joyful  gathering  ?  The  beggar 
at  the  gate,  with  his  still  more  extended  span  of  years,  might 
therein  show  a  better  claim  for  consideration.  In  the  review 
of  any  life  there  must  be  cause  for  sadness  as  well  as  for  joy  ; 
and  it  is  a  foolish  heart  that  can  give  vent  to  exultation  only, 
and  feel  no  self-reproach  for  neglected  opportunity.  And 
so  in  Albany,  when  we  would  boast  our  age  and  his- 
tory, we  should  at  least  consider  whether  as  a  city  we  have, 
in  all  respects,  been  true  to  our  early  promise  and  advan- 
tages. In  matters  of  trade  and  enterprise  we  may  have 
done  passingly  well,  and  even  in  surrounding  ourselves  with 
all  material  comforts.  But  what  about  the  influence  which 
we  should  have  allowed  our  artistic  associations  to  exert 
upon  us  in  fostering  enduring  and  wide  extended  tastes  ? 
In  what  respect,  while  more  and  more  richly  embellishing 
our  lives,  have  we  reminded  ourselves  that,  while  our  homes 
are  to  be  made  beautiful,  their  surroundings  should  not  be 
neglected  ?  And  in  this  connection  how  far  have  we  im- 
pressed it  upon  our  consciousness  that  we  should  strive  to 
give  our  city,  which  in  one  sense  is  our  larger  home,  a  por- 
tion of  our  taste  and  culture,  so  that  for  this  as  well  as  for 
commercial  enterprise  it  may  have  some  claim  upon  the 
world's  admiration  and  regard  ? 

What  example,  in  this  direction,  do  we  find  in  the  cities 
from  which,  in  part,  our  own  city  traces  its  lineage,  and 
which  we  so  complacently  believe  we  are  outstripping  in 
every  essential  attribute  ?  For  centuries,  indeed,  they  seemed 
to  be  dormant;  it  was  no  time  to  become  inspired  with 
ideas  of  progress,  when  siege  and  battle  and  rapine  were 
almost  the  habit  of  the  day.  It  may  well  be  understood  that 
then,  not  only  could  no  scheme  for  civic  improvement  be 

82 


organized,  but  that  even  their  household  treasures  must  often 
need  careful  concealment.  But  within  a  generation  there 
has  been  to  many  of  those  cities,  an  awakening.  The 
superfluity  of  their  riches  has  been  gathered  into  galleries, 
to  which  all  the  world  has  been  invited  for  study.  The  love 
of  art-culture  has  extended ;  and  they  have  asked  themselves 
why,  with  beauty  in  their  homes,  everything  around  them 
should  not  be  made  to  correspond  ?  They  have  re-embel- 
lished their  churches  and  erected  new  civic  buildings.  They 
have  not,  in  any  rash  spirit  of  modernizing,  widened  their 
narrow  streets.  This,  if  it  could  be  done  at  all,  would 
almost  be  profanation,  since  much  history  has  there  been 
made  and  centered.  But  in  the  outskirts  they  have  opened 
newer  and  broarder  avenues  ;  and  Httle  wooded  parks  have 
taken  the  place  of  antiquated  fortifications  now  swept  away  ; 
and  arched  collonades  have  been  extended  as  an  artistic 
framework  along  the  boarders  of  noted  places ;  and  foun- 
tains have  been  set  to  gush  at  the  corners  of  the  streets  or 
in  open  courts.  Much  of  this  has  been  done,  too,  not  as 
we  make  improvement,  through  individual  impulse  grafting 
separate  and  incongruous  ideas  upon  our  streets,  but  rather 
through  common  assent  giving  the  adornment  of  the  city 
into  the  custody  of  thoughtful  minds,  whereby  well-conceived 
designs  fitly  carried  out  may  gradually  grow  into  a  harmoni- 
ous whole.  And  with  all  this,  their  great  historic  names  and 
their  l^enefactors  have  not  been  forgotten.  In  the  galleries 
we  see  their  sombre  portraits  in  ruffs  or  slashed  doublets,  or 
chain  armor,  or  official  robes,  an  imposing  line  extending  far 
back  into  the  middle  ages ;  in  the  niches  outside  the  public 
buildings  are  their  stone  busts ;  in  the  public  parks  bronze 
or  marble  statues  more  largely  attest  the  gratitude  of  the 
people  and  keep  alive  those  sacred  memories. 

How  far,  with  all  our  boasted  enterprise  and  progress, 
have  we  advanced  into  a  realization  that  the  material  require- 
ments of  health,  protection  and  convenient  commercial 
facilities  are  not  the  only  things  our  city  need  regard ;  but 
that  the  truest  economy  is  that  which,  within  certain  bounds, 
would  lavish  our  resources  upon  it,  and  by  one  systematic 
effort  clothe  it  with  beauy,  and  make  it  not  only  a  satisfac- 
tion to  ourselves,  but  an  attraction  to  others  ?  And  in  doing 
so,  how  far  have  we  become  ready  to  give  grateful  express- 
ion to  the  memory  of  our  great  men  and  benefactors  ? 
Their  line  does  not  reach  back  for  many  centuries,  and  yet 

83 


they  are  not  few  in  number.  Almost  at  a  thought  we  can 
recall  many  who  long  before  this  should  have  had  a  better 
recognition  of  their  value  to  us.  There  is  Petrus  Stuyves- 
ant,  the  last  of  our  Dutch  Governors,  a  man  who,  in  his  time, 
was  not  greatly  loved  in  Beverwyck,  and  in  resentment  of 
his  fancied  encroachments  was  somewhat  disrespectfully 
treated  by  it ;  but  whose  reputation  has  grown  bright  as  a 
ruler  of  much  administrative  ability,  and  who,  if  he  had  not 
been  deposed  by  a  stronger  power,  would  have  deserved 
well  of  the  whole  colony,  and  now  certainly  seems  to  demand 
some  notice  in  the  city  which  has  become  its  capital. 
There  is  De  Witt  Clinton,  the  promoter  of  the  Erie  canal, 
who  thereby  helped  make  Albany  what  it  is,  instead  of  re- 
maining, as  might  have  happened,  little  more  than  an  inland 
village.  There  is  Robert  Fulton  who,  with  his  mechanical 
genius,  fitly  supplemented  the  work  of  Clinton,  and  gave  to 
the  canal  the  power  more  efficiently  to  let  its  cargoes  float 
down  to  the  ocean.  There  is  Philip  Schuyler,  for  a  period 
the  commander  of  the  northern  patriot  army,  and  for  many 
months  the  defender  of  our  outposts ;  and  who,  if  due  jus- 
tice had  been  meted  out  to  him,  might  himself  have  had 
the  good  fortune  to  fight  the  battles  of  Stillwater  and  Sara- 
toga, and  take  prisoner  the  royalist  leader  whom  he  was 
merely  left  to  entertain.  There  is  Washington  Irving,  most 
genial  of  New  York  writers,  whose  pleasantry  about  the  cus- 
toms of  our  ancestors  has  been  long  forgiven,  as  we  have 
learned  to  read  between  the  lines,  and  appreciate  aright  his 
tenderly  drawn  picturing  of  our  colonial  homes — as  accu- 
rate and  sympathetic  in  description  as  anything  that  Scott  has 
ever  written  about  the  lowland  life  of  his  native  land.  And 
there  is  Fenimore  Cooper,  still  ranking  as  the  greatest  of 
American  novelists,  whose  pen  has  made  classic  the  woods 
and  waters  of  our  northern  border,  and  who,  in  two  novels 
of  his  later  years,  has  illustrated  old-time  life  upon  the  Hud- 
son river,  and  the  colonial  society  of  Albany  itself,  with  a 
fidelity  and  accuracy  of  detail  that  can  never  be  excelled  by 
any  other  pen,  even  though  equal  genius  might  be  found  to 
wield  it.  What  has  so  far  been  done  among  us  to  give  per- 
manent expression  of  our  gratitude  to  these  and  others  who 
in  this  connection  might  be  mentioned  ?  Where  is  now 
even  our  single  monument  to  the  soldiers  who,  within  our 
memory,  went  from  among  us  to  the  battle  field,  never  to 
return  ? 


84 


So  far  there  may  have  been  some  excuse  for  a  portion  of 
our  remissness.  During  the  generation  now  passing  we 
have  been  occupied  with  more  serious  matters  than  tasteful 
decoration  of  our  streets,  or  pubHc  acknowledgment  of  our 
benefactors.  For  a  while  we  were  fighting  for  our  homes, 
and  there  were  times  when  we  did  not  feel  certain  in  what 
condition  the  fortune  of  war  might  leave  them  to  us.  And 
after  that,  came  days  of  trouble  and  despondency,  in  which 
all  seemed  dark  in  our  credit  and  resources,  and  we  knew 
not  whether  we  should  ever  fully  recover  from  the  shock  of 
arms  and  settle  down  once  more  to  the  pleasant  ways  of 
peace.  But  even  within  the  present  year  the  clouds  of  un- 
certainty have  rolled  apart,  and  we  have  become  able  to  see 
prosperous  paths  stretching  out  before  us.  Three  of  our 
greatest  generals  have  passed  away,  and  we  have  met  no  in- 
dication of  offense  or  detraction  from  those  who  once  called 
themselves  their  enemies  ;  nothing  but  the  chivalrous  respect 
with  which  brave  men  will  ever  regard  other  brave  men  who 
have  fought  with  them  upon  principal  and  in  honor.  From 
his  retirement  the  leader  of  the  lost  cause  has  come  and 
again  uttered  those  olden  sophistries  which  once  stirred  half 
a  continent  to  warfare.  For  a  time  there  were  some  among 
us  who  stood  uncertain  about  what  might  happen.  Was  this 
the  glimmering  of  a  torch  which  again  would  light  us  up 
with  conflagration  ?  But  as  we  listened,  we  heard  little  to 
dismay  us.  Even  the  few  words  of  sympathy  with  the  utter- 
ances of  the  fallen  chieftain  had  no  fervor  in  them ;  and, 
rightly  understood,  seem  nothing  else  than  the  desire  to 
soften,  for  a  short  period,  the  disappointments  of  a  broken 
down,  embittered  old  man.  The  danger  of  disunion  for 
any  cause  that  we  have  yet  known  has  forever  passed  away. 
Each  footfall  in  the  funeral  march  with  which  we  have  borne 
our  heroes  to  their  graves  has  found  a  throb  of  answering 
sympathy  in  some  southern  soldier's  heart ;  and  the  hands 
that  lightly  met  at  Appomattox,  have  now  been  clasped  with 
warm  and  fervent  pressure  across  the  tomb  at  Riverside. 
The  aspiration  of  the  great  soldier  has  become  fulfilled,  and 
at  last  we  have  peace. 

And  now,  with  that  peace  has  came  our  opportunity. 
How  will  we  improve  our  coming  years  ?  Some  day  there 
will  be  other  celebrations  of  this  kind  in  Albany.  I  do  not 
speak  of  another  anniversary  of  our  charter,  a  century  hence. 
None  who  are  now  here  would  live  to  see  it ;  nor,  amid  the 

85 


many  changes  of  social  and  civic  life,  could  we  be  sure  that 
it  would  ever  have  a  place.  But  within  the  present  genera- 
tion will  come  tlie  tri-centenary  of  Albany's  first  settlement ; 
and  it  may  be  looked  upon  as  certain  that  the  occasion  will 
not  remain  unimproved.  There  may  be  attractions  attend- 
ing it,  like  the  present ;  once  more  in  this  very  place,  per- 
haps, and  even  with  some  of  these  same  art  and  household 
treasures  taking  their  mute  part  in  it.  And  it  is  almost  cer- 
tain also,  that  there  are  many  persons  now  here  who  will 
then  be  here  again.  With  what  spirit  and  under  what  cir- 
cumstances will  they  come  ?  Will  they  draw  near  through 
broken  and  market  crowded  streets, — past  antiquities,  un- 
noticed and  uncared  for,  —  along  lines  of  architectural 
incongruities,  our  great  buildings  unfinished,  and  becoming 
a  world-wide  reproach,  because  no  public  spirit  has  been 
aroused  with  sufficient  force  to  free  them  from  political  inca- 
pacity ;  and  entering  here,  look  upon  the  collection  of  that 
day  as  something  to  be  considered  with  a  careless  and  in- 
different eye,  and  worthy  only  to  afford  an  hour's  amusement, 
before  being  remanded  to  its  former  comparative  obscurity  ? 
Or,  under  happier  auspices,  will  they  come  through  pleasant 
and  shaded  ways,  adorned  with  tasteful  and  harmonious 
architecture, — past  our  public  buildings  all  completed  and 
crowned  with  the  approbation  of  the  world  for  their  beauty 
and  richness, — across  bright  open  spaces  where  fountains 
sparkle  in  the  sun,  and  through  parks  where  our  great  men, 
in  enduring  bronze  and  marble,  look  down  from  their  sculp- 
tured pedestals  and  mutely  attest  our  grateful  memory  for 
them ;  and  with  such  associations  cheered,  here  gaze  upon 
our  relics,  not  merely  as  precious  heirlooms  that  can  tell  en- 
tertaining stories  of  the  past,  but  as  treasures  that  have 
already  taught  a  lesson,  in  adding  inspiration  toward  an 
ever-brightening  future  of  art  and  culture  ? 


THE    MANAGERS    OF    THE    EXHIBITION. 

The  successful  inauguration  of  this  exhibition  was  due  to 
the  exertions  of  the  following  officers  and  committees : 

President,  J.  Howard  King;  Vice-President,  James  T. 
Gardiner;  Secretary,  Henry  James  Ten  Eyck;  Treasurer, 
Ledyard  Cogswell. 

Executive  Committee — James  T.  Gardiner,  Chairman  ; 


86 


Mrs.  John  Boyd  Thacher,  Mrs.  Erastus  Corning,  Jr.,  Mrs. 
Robert  Shaw  OHver,  Mrs.  Clarence  Rathbone,  Miss  Frances 

C.  Nott,  Charles  Tracey,  W.  O.  Stillman,  Henry  James  Ten 
Eyck,  George  Douglas  Miller,  Charles  Visscher  Winne. 

Bi-Centennial  Loan  Commission  —  J.  Howard  King, 
President ;  Robert  C.  Pruyn,  John  Boyd  Thacher,  Selden 
E.  Marvin,  J.  Townsend  Lansing,  John  L.  Van  Valken- 
burgh,  John  C.  Nott,  Robert  Shaw  Oliver,  Douw  H.  Fonda, 
Lewis  Boss,  Charles  Tracey,  Samuel  B.  Towner,  Henry 
James  Ten  Eyck,  John  Zimmerman,  Robert  D.  Williams, 
W.  O.  Stillman,  James  T.  Gardiner,  George  Douglass  Mil- 
ler, William  Bayard  Van  Rensselaer,  Charles  Visscher 
Winne, 

Ladies'  Auxiliary  Committee  —  Mrs.  John  Boyd 
Thacher,  Mrs.  Erastus  Corning,  Jr.,  Mrs.  Robert  Shaw 
Oliver,  Mrs.  Clarence  Rathbone,  Miss  Frances  C.  Nott, 
Mrs.  Philip  Ten  Eyck,  Mrs.  Samuel  Hand,  Mrs.  WiUiam 
Cassidy,  Mrs.  Hamilton  Harris,  Mrs.  John  DeWitt  Peltz, 
Mrs.  J.  G.  Farnsworth,  Mrs.  Ledyard  Cogswell,  Mrs.  Jacob 
H.  Ten  Eyck,  Mrs.  Volkert  P.  Douw,  Mrs.  James  P.  Boyd, 
Mrs.  E.  B.  Ten  Broeck,  Mrs.  John  H.  Reynolds,  Jr.,  Miss 
Annie  V.  R.  Russell,  Mrs.  Rufus  W.  Peckham,  Mrs.  Mar- 
cus T.  Hun. 

Pictures,  Prints  and  Statuary  —  Mrs.  John  Boyd 
Thacher,  Chairman ;  Mrs.  William  Cassidy,  Lewis  Balch, 
Mrs.  Walter  D.  Nicholas,  John  Battersby,  Charles  G.  Saxe, 
Irving  Browne,  Thomas  Buckley,  Miss  Harriet  I.  Barnes, 
William  Bruce,  Edward  R.  Cassidy. 

Old  Furniture,  Ancient  Dress  and  General 
Relics — Miss  Frances  C.  Nott,  Chairman;  Mrs.  A. 
Bleecker  Banks,  Mrs.  J.  Townsend  Lansing,  Mrs.  J.  H. 
Ten  Eyck,  Mrs.  James  P.  Boyd,  Mrs.  F.  S.  Pruyn,  Mrs.  R. 

D.  Williams,  Mrs.  Volkert  P.  Douw,  Miss  Gertrude  Ten 
Eyck,  Thomas  Buckley,  Thurlow  Weed  Barnes. 

Ceramics,  Glass  and  Ivories  —  Mrs.  Robert  Shaw 
Oliver,  Chairman ;  E.  D.  Palmer,  Rev.  Wesley  R.  Davis, 
Mrs.  Samuel  Hand,  Miss  Anne  V.  R.  Russell,  Miss  Rath- 
bone, Mrs.  Ledyard  Cogswell,  Charles  L.  Pruyn,  George  D. 
Fearey,  R.  W.  Gibson,  Harry  C.  Cushman. 

Bric-a-Brac,  Old  Silver  and  Personal  Ornaments 
—  Mrs.  Erastus  Corning,  Jr.,  Chairman  ;  Mrs.  John  De  Witt 
Peltz,  Mrs.  Marcus  T.  Hun,  Mrs.  Bayard  U.  Livingstone, 
Richard  L.  Annesley,  Mrs.  E.  B.  Ten  Broeck,  Mrs.  John 

87 


H,  Reynolds,  Jr.,  Miss  Vanderpoel,  James  H.  Leake,  W. 
W,  Byington. 

Books,  Pamphlets,  Maps  and  Manuscripts  —  Geo, 
Douglas  Miller,  Chairman ;  the  Rev.  W.  W.  Battershall, 
Leonard  Kip,  the  Rev.  Edward  A.  Terry,  Mrs.  Hamilton 
Harris,  Mrs.  Marcus  T.  Hun,  B.  Irving  Stanton,  N.  C. 
Moak,  Lewis  Boss,  Robert  D.  Williams,  Harmon  Pumpelly 
Read,  Miss  Cynthia  R.  Dexter,  Duncan  Campbell. 

Indian  Relics  —  Charles  Visscher  Winne,  Chairman; 
Douw  H.  Fonda,  W.  W.  Crannell,  S.  N.  D.  North,  J.  Wal- 
lace Canady. 

Decorations,  Arrangements  and  Transportation 
—  W.  O.  Stillman,  Chairman;  R.  W.  Gibson,  Mrs.  D.  K. 
Bartlett,  Mrs.  J.  G.  Farnsworth,    Craig  McClure. 

Catalogue,  Printing  and  Insurance  —  Chas.  Tracey, 
Chairman ;  Selden  E.  Marvin,  F.  G.  Mather,  John  L.  Van 
Valkenburgh,  Carlisle  N.  Greig. 

Relics  of  the  Civil  War  —  Charles  Visscher  Winne, 
Chairman ;  A.  H.  Spierre,  J.  W.  Kenny,  John  S.  Hutman, 
Angus  McD.  Shoemaker. 

Saturday,  July  17th — Reception  of  the  Caughnawaga 
Indians. 

Crowds  thronged  the  streets  to  see  the  Caughna- 
waga Indians  arrive  in  the  city  from  their  home  in 
Canada.  The  train  was  to  arrive  at  5  :  10  P.  M,,  and  at 
that  time  the  depot  and  the  surrounding  locality  was 
densely  crowded  by  an  interested  populace. 

Preparatory  to  escorting  the  red  men,  the  Jackson 
Corps,  accompanied  by  the  Albany  City  band,  and 
headed  by  a  platoon  of  police,  under  Sergeant  Cava- 
naugh,  proceeded  to  the  City  Hall  where  a  counter- 
march was  made.  Then  the  corps  escorted  the 
aldermanic  delegation,  consisting  of  Aldermen  Hitt 
Greagan,  Norton,  Woodward  and  Marshal  Craven  to 
the  depot.  The  corps  presented  an  excellent  ap- 
pearance. 


Xhe  Caughnawaga  Indians  were  nearly  an  hour  late 
in  arriving  in  this  city.  They  were  received  at  the 
depot,  and  then,  accompanied  by  the  escort,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  City  Hall.  The  Indians  numbered 
thirty-three.  On  the  way  up  to  the  City  Hall  the 
aldermanic  delegation  walked  immediately  behind  the 
Jackson  corps,  while  the  Indians  followed.  It  was  a  uni- 
que spectacle,  for  although  the  natives  were  in  the  ordi- 
nary garb,  their  race  mark  was  sufficiently  prominent 
to  give  the  scene  a  strong  interest.  There  were  in  the 
party  fourteen  men  and  sixteen  squaws,  some  of  whom 
were  plainly  dressed,  while  the  younger  females  were 
decked  out  in  all  the  height  of  civilized  fashion,  and 
chains  around  the  neck  were  the  principal  ornaments. 

Arriving  at  the  City  Hall  the  party  proceeded  to 
the  Common  Council  chamber,  where  there  was  not 
nearly  enough  space  to  seat  the  great  crowd.  The 
Indian  delegates  took  seats  in  front. 

Aid.  Hitt  sounded  the  gavel,  and  when  there  was 
order  Mayor  Thacher  appeared  and  took  his  place 
at  the  President's  desk. 

Then  Father  Walworth  arose,  and  in  a  few  appro- 
priate words  presented  the  city's  guests  to  the  Mayor. 

MAYOR  THACHER'S  WELCOME. 

Mayor  Thacher,  then  in  reply,  spoke  as  follows  : 

Chiefs,  many  moons  ago,  almost  more  than  you  can  count 
with  the  beads  upon  your  wampum  belt,  your  fathers  gave 
a  hospitable  welcome  and  the  hand  of  friendship  to  our 
fathers  as  they  landed  on  these  shores.  It  is  now  our  turn 
to  greet  you  and  give  you  our  welcome.  Then  we  were 
few  in  numbers,  while  you  were  like  the  leaves  of  the  forest. 
Then  we  were  weak,  while  you  were  strong,  and  with  that 

89 


weapon,  the  tomahawk,  so  dreaded  by  the  whites,  you  could 
easily  have  destroyed  us.  Instead  of  that  you  passed  us 
the  pipe  of  peace  and  bade  us  be  your  friends.  We  can 
do  no  less  now  than  to  call  you  friends,  extend  to  you  the 
hospitalities  of  our  city,  and  assign  you  an  important  part 
in  our  festivities. 

Chiefs,  we  are  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  form  of  government 
which  is  as  peculiar  as  it  is  strong  and  enduring.  It  is  a 
single  nation  made  up  of  many  States,  bound  together  by 
one  indissoluble  tie.  This  idea  of  a  Union  was  foreshad- 
owed by  your  own  confederation  of  the  Five  Nations.  The 
truth  that  in  union  strength  is  found,  was  not  taught  you  by 
white  men,  was  not  revealed  to  you  by  the  men  of  Europe. 
Long  before  a  white  man  visited  these  shores,  yes,  two  cen- 
turies at  least  before  this  place  was  settled,  the  great  league 
of  the  Iroquois  was  established.  What  a  power  it  made  the 
Five  Nations! 

And  what  a  history  you  have  withal !  Your  poet  sings 
your  legendary  myths,  and  tells  in  strange  cadence  of  the 
marvelous  bird  which  destroyed  Hiawatha's  only  daughter. 
Your  people  repeat  still  the  national  tale  of  Ta-oun-ye-wa- 
tha  and  his  birch  bark  canoe  as  they  floated  down  the  Mo- 
hawk to  the  Canienga  town.  And  our  people  tell  the  story 
— and  shall  tell  it  until  virtue  ceases  to  be  interesting  to  our 
kind  and  we  grow  weary  of  constancy  and  truth — the  story 
of  Indian  faith  and  fidelity. 

Our  ancestors  found  in  your  people  a  race  with  whom  a 
promise  was  kept  with  all  the  exaction  of  necessity  and  with 
whom  constancy  to  a  phghted  word  was  as  imperative  as 
destiny. 

Among  all  the  memories  of  the  past  revived  by  your  visit 
here,  there  is  nothing  more  satisfactory  to  us,  nothing  which 
speaks  more  clearly  of  the  pleasant  relations  which  existed 
between  your  people  and  ours  in  the  middle  of  the  seven- 
teenth century  than  the  fact  that  in  all  our  dealings  with  you, 
in  all  our  acquisitions  of  land,  we  robbed  you  of  nothing, 
but  paid  for  what  we  got,  and  with  the  purchase  we  obtained 
what  gold  and  silver  could  not  buy,  and  what  was  of  infi- 
nitely more  value  to  us — the  confidence  and  friendship  of 
the  Indian. 

Therefore,  your  presence  here  now,  and  the  knowledge 
that  you  will  tarry  with  us  during  our  celebration  and  join 
with  us  in  our  ceremonies,  is  a  source  of  congratulation  with 

90 


our  people,  and  I  speak  for  all  of  them  when  I  declare  again 
that  you  are  very,  very  welcome. 

Chief  Joseph  Skye  made  an  appropriate  reply  in 
Iroquois,  which  was  translated  into  English  by  Joseph 
Foster,  a  young  man  of  the  tribe.  He  thanked  the 
Mayor  for  the  hospitality,  and  wished  God  to  bless 
him  and  the  city. 

Then  the  band  rendered  a  selection,  and  a  chorus 
of  the  redmen  gave  a  very  excellent  song  in  their 
native  language,  which  received  an  encore. 

The  Mayor  then  came  down  from  the  desk  and  was 
introduced  to  the  visitors. 


THE    CELEBRATION. 

Sunday,  July  i8th — ©evotional  Day. 

MEMORIAL     AND      HISTORICAL      SERMONS      IN      THE 
CHURCHES,  APPROPRIATE   TO   THE   OCCASION. 

The  devotional  exercises  of  the  Jewish  congrega- 
tion were  held  on  Saturday,  July  17. 

National  and  religious  emblems  were  artistically 
mingled  within  the  walls  of  Beth-Emeth  temple  when 
its  doors  were  thrown  open  for  the  introductory  relig- 
ious service  of  the  great  demonstration  commemora- 
tive of  the  municipality's  two  hundredth  birthday. 
Before  the  shrine  reaching  from  floor  to  ceiling,  rose  a 
large  arch  formed  of  the  national  colors  and  capped 
with  a  large  shield.  On  the  platform  at  the  sides  of 
the  arch  were  two  stately  phoenix  palms.  The  front 
of  the  pulpit  was  hidden  by  a  beautiful  floral  design, 
a  large  eagle  of  pure  white  flowers  upon  a  green  back- 
ground, with  its  outstretched  wings  extending  to  two 

91 


large  century  plants  at  the  sides  of  the  pulpit.  Upon 
the  wings,  in  purple  flowers,  were  the  figures  "  1686— 
1886,"  the  whole  design  being  an  apt  emblem  of  the 
city's  prosperity,  extending  as  it  does  from  century 
to  century.  The  candelabra,  containing  lighted  can- 
dles, at  the  sides  of  the  shrine  were  draped  with  red, 
white  and  blue.  Bi-centennial  flags  sprung  from  the 
sides  of  the  main  arch,  and  the  American  colors  hung 
from  the  chandeliers.  The  reading  table  in  front  of 
the  pulpit  was  entirely  hidden  under  a  bank  of  flow- 
ers and  the  platform  was  bordered  with  them.  The 
organ  loft  and  galleries  were  covered  with  deep  folds 
of  red  white  and  blue  bunting. 

THE  SERVICES 
A  few  moments  after  10  o'clock,  as  the  choir  were 
singing  "  Glorious  is  Thy  Name,"  Mayor  Thacher, 
and  Aldermen  Woodward  and  Klaar  entered,  escorted 
by  Mr.  B.  Stark,  and  took  seats  in  Mr.  Stark's  pew. 
The  Rev.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman  of  the  First  Reformed, 
and  the  Rev.  Russell  Woodman,  assistant  rector  of 
St.  Peter's,  were  also  among  the  audience.  The  ser- 
vice, much  of  which  was  in  Hebrew,  was  very 
impressive.  The  opening  consisted  of  short  prayers, 
interspersed  with  these  chants  :  Boruck-Chu,  Sch'ma, 
Micho  Mocho,  Kaddesh,  Wa-je-hi-bi-ne-so-a,  Sch'ma, 
Ho-du  al  e  rez,  as  the  choir  chanted  "  Wa  je  hi  bi  ne 
so  a,"  the  doors  closing  out  the  shrine  glided  back, 
disclosing  the  interior  of  the  holy  of  holies  with  its 
sacred  treasures,  and  the  Rev.  Max  Schlesinger  read 
the  Pentateuch  from  the  scroll.  The  sermon  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Schlesinger  followed,  and  the  service  was 
concluded  with  these  musical  selections  "  Bi-centen- 

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nial    hymn,  "    "  Wa-a-nach-nu,  "    "  Wa  a  nach  nu  ko 
rim,"  air  and  chorus. 

Rabbi  Schlesinger  delivered  the  sermon  and  took 
for  his  text  Psalms  127,  1,2,7:  "Except  the  Lord 
build  the  house,  they  labor  in  vain  that  build  it ; 
except  the  Lord  keeps  the  city,  the  watchman  waketh 
but  in  vain." 

He  said  in  the  course  of  his  remarks :  This  gives  us  the 
reason  for  our  great  rejoicing.  Love  of  country,  of  the 
place  of  our  habitation,  is  something  natural.  We  love  the 
soil  on  which  our  cradle  or  the  cradle  of  our  children  stood ; 
the  place,  that  witnessed  our  joys  and  sorrows  and  afforded 
us  the  battle-field  of  our  life's  struggles,  is  dear  to  our  heart. 
As  the  tree  clings  with  its  roots  to  the  soil  from  which  it 
sprang,  as  it  entwines  and  embraces  it  with  a  thousand  fibres, 
which  spread  farther  and  deeper  with  every  year,  so  does 
man  cling  to  the  spot  on  which  he  lives.  Every  fibre  of  his 
soul,  his  very  heart-strings,  are  enlwined  around  and  with  it. 
We  naturally  love  our  dear  old  Albany  and  are  proud  of  her. 
But  there  are  many  other  reasons  for  this  our  great  love. 

A    JUST    PRIDE    IN    ALBANY. 

The  principal  one  I  take  to  be  that  our  natuial  pride  in 
our  city  is  also  a  just  pride.  You  may  go  far  and  wide  and 
not  find  a  spot  that  has  become  the  habitation  of  man  which 
is  so  happily,  so  grandly,  so  beautifully  situated  as  our  dear 
old  Albany.  Enthroned  on  her  hills,  she  sits  the  veritable 
Queen  of  the  Hudson.  It  is  as  if  this  magnificent  river  was 
paying  homage  to  her  and  serving  her  with  all  its  might. 
To  her  he  brings  up  the  tide  of  the  ocean  and  makes  her  the 
head  of  his  unrivalled  navigation.  From  him  she  sends  out 
the  canals;  and  at  her  feet  the  happy  union  of  the  river  with 
the  distant  lakes  is  accomplished,  a  union  fruitful  of  innu- 
merable blessings.  A  mighty  railroad  system  rushes  through 
the  whole  length  of  our  vast  continent  until  it  finds  it  ter- 
minus in  her  bosom.  Both,  railroads  and  canals,  gather  up 
the  immeasurable  wealth  of  the  far  West  and  distant  North- 
west, and  pour  it  constantly  into  her  lap.  Her  industrious 
hands  are  kept  busy  handing  them  over  to  the  waves  of  her 
faithful  Hudson,  that  they  be  brought  down  to  the  ocean,  to 

93 


enrich  foreign  countries  and  make  glad  all  nations.  What  a 
noble  and  commanding  position  our  dear,  old  Albany  occu- 
pies in  the  commercial,  industrial  and  agricultural  system  of 
our  country  and  the  world  !  And  this  material  wealth  is  not 
the  only  blessing  for  which  we  have  to  give  thanks. 

THE    BLESSING   OF    HEALTH    AND    BEAUTY. 

There  is  another,  without  which  it  would  be  of  little  value. 
It  is  health.  Seated  on  her  hills  and  bathing  her  feet  in  the 
billows  of  the  Hudson,  Albany  is  one  of  the  healthiest 
cities  in  this  or  any  other  country.  Our  plentiful  supply  of 
water  and  pure  air  is  a  boon  that  cannot  be  overestimated. 
Not  less  is  her  natural  drainage  which  sweeps  the  city  from 
end  to  end,  so  that  every  gust  of  rain  clears  and  scours  her 
streets,  as  no  contractor  ever  would  do.  The  situation  of  the 
city  is  our  most  efficient  health  officer.  A  most  magnificent 
landscape  scenery  surrounds  our  city  as  with  a  panorama. 
Whichever  side  we  turn,  we  are  confronted  with  beauty  so 
refreshing,  so  exhilarating,  that  only  our  daily  familiarity 
with  it  can  abate  the  joy  and  admiration  it  is  apt  to  impart 
to  the  beholder.  These,  surely,  are  good  reasons  for  our 
love  of  Albany.  Another,  and  to  my  mind  the  most  potent 
reason,  is  her  noble  history.  We  cannot  dwell  on  it  at  any 
length.  Only  so  much  we  will  say  that  the  main  character- 
istic of  her  200  years'  history  were  justice  and  peace.  "  The 
place  of  the  council  fires,"  she  was  called  by  the  wild  abo- 
rigines, and  wise  counsels  always  prevailed  within  her  walls. 
She  wrote  her  record  on  the  pages  of  history  by  her  valiant 
deeds  of  great  industrial  enterprise  and  daring  thought, 
rather  than  by  weapons  of  warfare. 

HERE  BEGAN  ENGINEERING  TRIUMPHS. 

In  the  history  of  the  great  industrial  achievments  of  our 
age,  Albany  occupies  not  a  mean  place.  With  Albany  and 
the  Hudson  the  annals  of  steam  navigation  have  to  com- 
mence their  wonderful  story.  Here  it  was  where  Fulton 
achieved  his  great  triumph  in  1807.  Between  Albany  and 
New  York  was  plying  his  wonderful  invention,  which  became 
the  pioneer  of  all  those  floating  palaces  which  now  fill  the 
oceans  and  navigable  rivers.  It  was  mostly  Albany  enter- 
prise and  Albany  men  who  pushed  on  that  gigantic  work  of 
inland  navigation,  a  grand  scheme  of  watery  highways,  that 

94 


connect  the  West  with  the  East,  was  accomplished,  and  bene- 
fited the  whole  country  indirectly  still  more  than  directly. 
When  in  October,  1825,  the  canal  from  Lake  Erie  to  Albany 
was  completed  it  was  not  only  our  State  which  rejoiced  and 
was  thrilled  by  this  great  success.  All  over  the  country 
enterprise  received  a  stimulus  as  never  before.  The  great 
benefit  to  be  derived  from  an  easy  and  uninterrupted  con- 
nection between  the  various  parts  of  our  vast  territories  was 
clearly  perceived.  The  wonderful  steam  car,  which  but  a 
short  time  before,  had  been  invented  in  England,  was  brought 
over  to  this  country,  where  it  was  to  find  its  widest  scope  for 
running  its  glorious  race  with  joyous  errands  of  progress  and 
peace. 

THE    SCENE    OF    GRAND     ACHIEVEMENTS. 

And  again  it  was  our  dear  old  Albany  that  was  foremost 
in  appreciating  and  welcoming  this  new  messenger  of  good 
tidings.  In  1826  already  a  charter  was  granted  to  the  Hud- 
son and  Mohawk  railroad  company,  and  in  1830  trains  ran 
from  Albany  to  Schenectady  over  one  of  the  first  railroads 
of  this  country.  As  has  been  recently  pointed  out  by  his 
honor,  the  Mayor,  even  the  telegraph  announced  its  coming 
first  in  out  dear  old  city.  When  in  1831  Joseph  Henry 
made  his  marvelous  experiment,  and  by  means  of  an  electro- 
magnet transmitted  signals  through  a  wire  more  than  a  mile 
in  length,  causing  a  bell  to  sound  at  the  further  end  of  the 
wire  —  this  bell  rang  in  the  era  of  the  telegraph.  In  the 
American  Journal  of  Science  he  pointed  out  the  applicabil- 
ity of  the  facts,  demonstrated  by  his  experiments,  to  the 
instantaneous  conveyance  of  intelligence  between  distant 
points  by  means  of  a  magnetic  telegraph.  You  see  that 
almost  every  one  of  the  great  inventions  which  facilitate  the 
progress  of  our  age  is  more  or  less  connected  with  our  city. 
Have  we  not  good  reason  to  be  proud  of  her  record  ? 

Dr.  Schlesinger  concluded  his  instructive  address 

with  an  appropriate  peroration  and  prayer  for  the  city 

and  city  officers. 

SUNDAY   DEVOTIONS. 

Sunday  dawned  fair  and  bright;  there  was  neither 
wind  nor  rain  in  view  to   spoil   the   pleasure   of  the 

95 


opening  of  the  greatest  week  in  the  history  of  this  old, 
old  city.  For  many  days  prior,  people  complained  of 
the  extremely  warm  weather,  but  all  thought  that  this 
day  had  been  created  specially  for  Albany's  great 
Bi-centenary.  Soon,  however,  the  warm  rays  began  to 
beat  down,  and  as  early  as  nine  o'clock  the  air  was 
damp,  sultry  and  warm.  Crowds  of  Albanians  and 
visitors  were  seen  in  the  streets  early,  all  viewing  old 
Albany  in  her  bridal  dress.  Many  comments  fell 
from  the  strangers,  complimenting  the  beauty  and 
taste  displayed  by  the  decorations.  Throngs  wended 
their  way  to  the  churches,  where  the  more  notable 
services  took  place,  all  intent  upon  hearing  a  good 
sermon,  and  combining  the  elements  of  Christian 
teaching  and  Christian  history  in  this  city.  None 
carried  umbrellas  though,  and  people  generally  were 
surprised  to  hear  the  rain  begin  to  patter  on  the  roofs 
soon  after  seating  themselves.  The  sky  looked  clear 
and  cloudless  when  they  entered ;  when  they  left  the 
holy  temples  rain  was  falling  fast.  Considerable 
thunder  accompanied  the  rain — all  making  a  fit  sym- 
bol of  this  great  commencement  of  a  great  week. 
God's  hand  at  the  outset  was  shown,  and  his  grace 
and  benediction  later,  when  He  caused  to  clear  away 
the  rain  clouds,  leaving  Albany  in  the  afternoon  a 
pleasant,  beautiful  city.  Following  are  full  reports 
of  the  services  in  the  various  churches: 

ST.  MARY'S. 

The  exercises  at  St.  Mary's  church  w^ere  striking, 
unique,  and  moreover  grand.  It  was  a  fitting  cele- 
bration of  the  Bi-centenary.     A  grand  military  mass 

96 


is  a  rare  event  in  this  country,  and  Albany  never 
saw  one  before.  Elaborate  preparations  had  been 
made  for  the  care  of  the  vast  multitude  that  was 
expected  to  attend,  and  as  a  consequence  the  best  of 
order  prevailed  and  the  greatest  possible  number  of 
spectators  admitted  to  the  church.  Those  who  were 
fortunate  to  secure  a  ticket  of  admission,  as  a  rule, 
were  early  in  attendance  and  comfortably  seated  be- 
fore the  arrival  of  the  officials,  the  delegation  of 
Caughnawaga  Indians  and  other  specially  invited 
guests. 

It  was  precisely  10:40  when  the  guests  arrived  and 
marched  up  the  church  aisle,  headed  by  Mayor 
Thacher.  The  organist,  Mr.  Schneider,  accompanied 
by  Parlati's  orchestra,  immediately  opened  with  a 
brilliant  march  from  "  Le  Prophete,"  by  Meyerbeer, 
during  which  the  delegation  was  seated. 

There  were  about  thirty  of  the  officials,  among 
them  Mayor  Thacher,  Senator  Parker,  Marshal  Craven, 
Aldermen  Thomas  and  Fleming,  Police  Commissioner 
Carroll,  and  Mr.  Scott  D.  M.  Goodwin.  Next  came 
the  visiting  Indians  who  were  provided  with  chairs 
inside  the  altar  railing,  on  the  right  of  the  church. 
The  Jackson  corps  followed,  under  the  command  of 
Major  Macfarlane,  and  numbered  about  fifty  in  all, 
presenting  a  fine  appearance.  They  remained  standing 
in  the  middle  aisle,  coming  to  a  present  arms  upon 
the  entrance  of  the  sanctuary  choir  and  the  officiating 
clergy.  As  the  latter  marched  up  the  aisle  to  their 
places  on  the  altar,  the  sanctuary  boys,  led  by  Rev. 
Joseph  Lanahan,  sang  a  processional  hymn  of  thanks- 
giving.    The  Jackson  corps  then  took  a  position  just 

97 


outside  the  altar  railing,  and  the  solemn  pontifical  high 
mass  selected  for  the  occasion  was  begun. 

Pontifical  high  mass  was  sung,  Right  Rev,  Bishop 
Wadhams  of  Ogdensburg,  acting  as  celebrant,  with 
Very  Rev.  Father  Ludden,  administrator  of  the  diocese, 
as  assistant  priest;  Rev.  Father  Burke,  of  St.  Joseph's, 
and  Father  Duffy,  of  East  Albany,  as  deacons  of 
honor ;  Rev.  Father  Kennedy,  of  Syracuse,  as  deacon. 
Rev.  Father  Sherry,  of  Ogdensburg,  as  sub-deacon, 
and  Rev.  Fathers  Sanderson  and  Dillon,  of  St.  Mary's, 
as  masters  of  ceremonies.  Among  the  other  clergy- 
men who  assisted  in  the  services  were  Fathers  Walsh, 
Hanlon,  Pidgeon  and  Byron,  of  the  cathedral ;  Father 
Merns,  of  St.  John's  ;  Fathers  Terry  and  Dolan,  of  St. 
Ann's ;  Father  Caesar  Cucchiarini,  of  the  Church  of 
our  Lady  of  Angels  ;  Father  Toolan,  of  Sacred  Heart 
church;  Father  Peyton,  of  West  Albany;  Father 
Sheehan,  of  West  Troy ;  Father  McDermott,  of  Johns- 
town, and  Father  McDonald,  of  Waterville.  The 
sermon  was  delivered  by  Father  Walworth,  who,  in 
his  usually  effective  and  forcible  manner,  spoke  from 
the  following  text: 

EVENTFUL    PERIODS    IN    THE     HISTORY    OF    ST.    MARY'S. 

"  Remember  the  days  of  old ;  consider  all  the  genera- 
tions. Ask  thy  father  and  he  will  show  thee,  thy  elders  and 
they  will  tell  thee." — Deut.  xxxii ;  6. 

Monsignor,  Very  Rev.  and  Rev.  Fathers,  Gentle- 
men OF  THE  Magistracy,  the  Common  Council  and 
Commonalty  of  Albany,  Beloved  Brethren  of  the 
Laity — Two  hundred  and  forty-four  years  ago  was  an 
eventful  time  in  the  history  of  Albany,  and  especially  in  the 
religious  history  of  Albany.  In  that  year  two  remarkable 
men  clasped  friendly  hands  just  outside  the  gate  of  old  Fort 
Orange.     The  one  was  clad  in  the  usual  costume  of  a  gen- 

98 


tleman  of  the  period,  the  old-fashioned  three-cornered  cocked 
hat,  the  ample  vest  and  cut-away  coat,  trunk  hose  and  sil- 
ver-buckled shoes.  The  other  wore  a  tattered  cassock.  His 
face  was  pale  with  signs  of  recent  suffering.  He  had  lost 
several  fingers  which  had  been  bitten  off  from  his  hands  in 
captivity.  He  was  still  a  captive  and  carefully  watched  by 
his  Indian  tormentors.  The  first  of  these  two  men  was  the 
celebrated  Dominie  Megapolensis,  the  first  minister  of  the 
Dutch  Reformed  church  in  Albany,  who  had  just  arrived 
from  Holland.  The  other  was  that  noble  martyr  of  the 
Catholic  church,  Father  Isaac  Jogues,  a  Jesuit  missionary 
whom  the  Indians  had  brought  with  then  a  captive  from  the 
bloody  terrace  of  Ossernenon.  There  several  of  his  compan- 
ions lay  bathed  in  their  blood,  and  amongst  them  a  lovely 
Christian  saint,  first  martyr  of  the  mission,  the  young  Rene 
Goupil.  Would  you  hke  to  see  the  spot  where  they  suflered? 
It  lies  in  the  angle  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  Schoharie 
creek  with  the  Mohawk  river.  You  have  only  to  take  the 
cars  on  the  West  Shore  railroad,  stop  at  the  station  of  Au- 
riesville,  and  mount  the  hill  just  behind  it.  The  field  was 
bought  last  year  by  the  society  of  Jesus.  A  rude  oratory 
stands  there  now,  surmounted  by  a  cross.  I  trust  that  be- 
fore long  we  shall  see  there  a  convent  and  a  convent 
church. 

At  the  time  we  speak  of,  the  severed  fingers  of  Father 
Jogues  lay  mingled  with  its  dust.  Four  years  later  when  he 
returned  to  the  bloody  field  of  his  mission  the  savage  Mo- 
hawks took  his  life  also.  His  head,  severed  from  the  body, 
was  mounted  upon  one  of  the  palisades  of  the  Indian  fort  or 
castle,  and  made  to  face  northward  towards  Canada,  from 
which  he  came.  His  body  was  thrown  into  the  Mohawk 
and  wafted  on  by  the  stream  towards  Albany.  We  shall 
never  find  it  on  earth,  but  I  trust  that  many  of  us  will  see  it 
again  in  the  glory  of  heaven. 

But  let  us  return  to  the  gate  of  Fort  Orange  and  to  the 
door  of  Dominie  Megapolensis,  where  he  and  his  Jesuit 
friend  are  clasping  hands  together  and  speaking  together  in 
the  Latin  tongue.  Both  were  learned  men,  both  were  good 
men,  and  both  were  friendly  one  to  the  other. 

These  two  clergymen,  both  Christians,  but  representing 
beliefs  and  worships  widely  difiering,  both  grand  forms  in  the 
history  of  Albany,  came  here  the  same  year.  The  one  fol- 
lowed trade  hither,  the  other  was  brought  in  bonds.     Neither 

99 


staid  here  long ;  the  one  retired  soon  to  New  York  city,  the 
other  retired  soon  to  eternity.  But  this  is  the  moral  to  which 
I  wish  to  bring  your  minds :  When  those  two  good  men 
joined  hands,  there  was  no  bigotry  in  that  grasp.  There 
was  great  variance  in  their  faith.  Each  one  held  strong 
convictions  which  neither  one  would  have  consented  to  part 
with  even  to  please  the  best  friend  on  earth.  As  they  dif- 
fered from  each  other  in  these  convictions,  both  could  not 
be  in  all  things  right.  There  may  have  existed  prejudice  in 
one  mind  or  the  other.  But  adherence  to  truth  is  not  big- 
otry ;  adherence  to  error  is  not  bigotry ;  prejudice  is  not 
bigotry.  Bigotry  is  something  more  than  a  firm  judgment  or 
a  false  judgment.  It  is  a  dark,  gloomy  and  evil  passion  in 
the  heart,  which  can  find  no  charity  for  those  who  differ  with 
us,  which  can  conceive  of  no  good  motive  in  those  who  op- 
pose us,  which  is  always  ready  to  believe  a  lie  when  applied 
to  those  who  do  not  agree  with  us.  When  we  see  these  two 
great  and  good  men  clasping  hands  together,  so  strongly  dif- 
fering in  religious  convictions,  but  so  full  of  mutual  love  and 
sympathy,  it  is  both  beautiful  and  sublime.  Let  us  all  lay  it 
well  to  heart. 

It  is  a  pleasant  thing  to  remember  that,  just  forty-four 
years  later,  as  if  in  return  for  the  charity  and  hospitality  given 
by  Albany  to  this  suffering  Catholic  captive,  a  Catholic  King 
in  England  and  a  Catholic  Governor  of  New  York  gave  to 
Albany  that  happy  parchment  which  made  it  a  chartered 
city. 

EARLY    INDIAN    MISSIONS    ON    THE    MOHAWK. 

The  first  French  colony  was  established  at  Quebec  in 
1608.  The  city  of  Montreal  was  at  first  only  a  hospital 
founded  in  the  wilderness  by  the  Sceurs  Hospitalieres.  Its 
stockade  was  building  at  the  time  when  Father  Jogues  and 
his  companions  were  captured  near  by  and  brought  to  the 
Mohawk  valley,  namely,  in  the  year  1642.  That  same  year, 
as  I  have  already  said,  its  first  Dutch  minister  arrived  in 
Albany  from  Holland. 

Another  Catholic  missionary.  Father  Bressani,  following 
in  the  footsteps  of  Father  Jogues,  was  horribly  tortured  by 
the  same  Indians,  and  passed  through  Albany  in  1644. 
Father  Jogues  returned  with  his  mutilated  fingers  to  the 
Mohawk  in  1646,  and  was  then  and  there  martyred.  Father 
Poncet,    Father   LeMoyne,    Fathers    Fremin,   Bruyas   and 

100 


Pierron  all  passed  through  Albany  on  their  way  to  and  from 
the  Indian  castles  on  the  Mohawk,  a  ground  then  already 
known  as  "  The  Mission  of  Martyrs."  As  early  as  1667  a 
permanent  chapel  was  established  at  Tionnontogen,  now 
Spraker's  Basin,  and  bore  the  name  of  St.  Mary's.  We  find 
another  existing  at  Caughnawaga,  that  is  the  sand  flats  near 
Fonda,  called  St.  Peter's,  as  early  at  least  as  1669,  under  the 
care  of  Father  Boniface.  Here,  in  1676,  the  holy  Indian 
maiden,  Tegakwita,  was  baptized  by  Father  James  de  Lam- 
berville.  In  that  year  and  about  the  same  time  the  famous 
Indian  warrior  Kryn,  "  Conqueror  of  the  Mohegans,"  led 
large  band  of  converts  to  the  new  Caughnawaga,  already 
established  at  the  great  fall  near  Montreal.  That  Catholic 
colony  exists  there  still — you  see  its  representatives  before 
you.  Tliis  was  an  eventful  period  for  the  Catholic  faith  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  Missions  and  mission  chapels  were 
erected  among  all  the  five  nations  of  the  Iroquois.  Numerous 
conversions  were  made,  and,  alas,  many  martyrs  suffered,  both 
Frenchmen  and  Indian  converts.  This  glorious  period  lasted 
from  1642  to  1684.  The  suppression  of  the  missions  was 
brought  about,  I  grieve  to  say,  not  so  much  by  the  animosity 
of  the  savages  against  the  faith  as  by  the  deadly  spirit  of  covet- 
ous trade.  Religion  has  no  enemy  more  powerful  or  more 
cruel  than  the  lust  for  money.  The  Holland  Dutch  of  Albany 
and  New  York  on  the  one  side  and  the  French  of  Canada 
on  the  other,  struggled  together  to  secure  the  trade  in  In- 
dian furs,  and  the  work  of  the  missionaries  who  sought  to 
secure  souls  for  God  was  crushed  between  the  two.  And  I 
am,  furthermore,  sorry  to  say  that  a  Catholic  Governor  of 
New  York  and  a  Catholic  Governor  in  Canada  were  the 
principal  agents  in  this  unholy  work  of  destruction.  There 
are  Catholics  in  our  day,  greedy  tradesmen,  or  ambitious 
politicians,  equally  unworthy  of  the  name  tliey  bear,  engaged 
in  work  as  unholy,  and  as  mischievous  to  their  religion. 
They  might  learn  a  lesson  by  studying  that  weakly  Christian- 
ity which  flickered  in  the  souls  of  Dongan  and  DeNonville. 
Few  know  the  large  numbers  of  Indian  converts  brought 
into  the  faith  and  of  martyrs  dying  for  the  faith  during  this 
eventful  period.  However,  let  it  be  distinctly  understood 
and  well  remembered  that  the  work  of  these  missionaries 
did  not  perish.  Let  those  who  think  so  visit  the  present 
Indian  reservation  at  Caughnawaga,  about  twenty  miles  from 
Montreal.     There  a  population    of   thirteen    hundred,   all 

lOI 


Catholic  Indians,  mostly  of  Mohawk  blood,  still  reside,  and 
attend  mass  at  their  ancient  Catholic  church.  Some  of  them 
you  see  here  to-day.  The  priest  who  is  their  chaplain  occu- 
pies the  same  apartments  once  occupied  by  Charlevoix,  the 
historian  of  New  France,  who  lived  at  that  early  period  and 
was  companion  to  some  that  we  have  named.  Other  villages 
of  the  same  character  are  also  found  in  Canada.  Does  this 
look  like  wasted  work  ? 

INCORPORATION    OF    ST.    MARY'S. 

Let  us  now  pass  over  a  period  of  one  more  century.  In 
1684,  Father  Jean  de  Lamberville,  the  last  of  that  devoted 
band  of  Catholic  missionaries,  whose  fruitful  labor  among 
the  Indian  tribes  of  New  York  we  have  so  briefly  catalogued, 
departed  for  Canada  amidst  the  regrets  and  lamentations  of 
the  Onondaga  chiefs  who  escorted  him  in  safety  to  their 
borders.  It  was  French  treachery  that  made  his  departure 
necessary,  but  the  Onondaga  sages  know  that  the  good  man 
had  no  share  in  it.  In  1784  no  trace  was  left  of  the  rude 
chapels  which  had  been  erected  among  the  Indians  of  New 
York,  in  the  previous  century.  There  were  Catholics  among 
the  inhabitants  of  Albany,  but  without  a  church.  Now  and 
then  the  occasional  visit  of  a  priest  enabled  them  to  kneel  at 
the  holy  sacrifice,  celebrated  in  its  simplest  form  in  some 
private  dwelling-house.  Their  increasing  numbers  soon 
made  it  necessary  to  erect  a  church  and  have  a  permanent 
priest.  In  1796  a  meeting  of  these  was  held  in  the  house  of 
James  Robichaud  and  the  Catholics  of  Albany  were  formally 
incorporated  into  a  parish,  as  still  appears  by  the  records  in 
the  office  of  our  County  Clerk.  The  children  of  these 
founders  may  still  be  pointed  out  among  the  worshippers  of 
St.  Mary's  and  the  other  churches  of  Albany.  In  1796  the 
corner-stone  of  a  church  was  laid,  and  in  1797  the  building 
was  completed.  The  old  inscription  stones  commemorating 
these  events  are  still  preserved  in  the  walls  of  this  present 
edifice,  and  the  inscriptions  are  as  legible  as  ever.  The  red 
seed,  which  fell  upon  the  soil  of  Albany  from  the  mutilated 
fingers  of  Father  Jogues,  sprouted  again  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years  later,  and  this  parish  of  St.  Mary's  still  remains 
the  earhest  tree.  Here  still  it  stands,  the  central  point  of  a 
stately  grove,  which  extends  over  the  whole  country  formerly 
covered  by  the  Iroquois  lodges  and  the  camps  of  their  hunt- 
ing grounds.     Long  may  that  noble   old  tree  flourish,  its 

102 


branches  far  extended  and  its  trunks  deep  rooted  in  the  soil ! 
Long  may  her  people  gather  to  worship  at  this  shrine, 
earnest  in  their  faith,  devout  in  their  worship,  abounding  in 
good  works,  gentle  in  their  bearing  towards  all,  but  never 
tame  to  surrender  that  glory,  which  belongs  to  their  God. 

ST.  Mary's  a  cathedral. 
Another  leap  of  fifty  years  brings  us  to  another  memorable 
period.  In  1846  Albany  was  erected  into  an  Episcopal  See. 
St.  Mary's  became  a  cathedral  church,  presided  over  by  the 
Rt.  Rev.  John  McCloskey,  afterwards  known  as  Cardinal 
McCloskey,  the  first  ecclesiastic  raised  to  that  dignity  on  this 
continent.  Tokens  of  that  cathedral  building  and  of  Cardi- 
nal McCloskey's  ministrations  in  it  may  still  be  seen  in  the 
basement  chapel,  underneath  this  floor.  There  is  the  same 
altar  at  which  he  officiated,  with  its  altar  stone,  the  same 
tabernacle,  the  same  candlesticks,  the  same  chancel  rails. 
The  floor  of  the  sanctuary  is  also  the  same,  and  the  old  Sta- 
tions of  the  Cross  so  familiar  to  his  eyes  still  hang  about  the 
walls.  We  have  here  present  a  witness  to  all  this  in  the  be- 
loved and  venerable  prelate  who  officiates  this  morning. 
You  know  him  well.  He  was  your  pastor  in  the  days  I  speak 
of.  It  is  but  a  little  while  ago  that  the  good  Cardinal  de- 
parted to  his  reward.     Requiescat  in  pace. 

THE    PRESENT    ST.    MARY'S. 

A  shorter  transit  now  brings  us  to  a  period  in  the  history 
of  St.  Mary's  crowded  with  memorable  events  of  which  we 
are  nearly  all  of  us  witnesses.  In  the  spring  of  the  year  1867, 
an  arduous  task  became  necessary  and  was  begun.  The 
second  St.  Mary's,  erected  in  1828,  a  building  prematurely 
old  and  ready  to  fall,  was  taken  down  and  the  building  of 
this  present  church  commenced.  The  charge  of  superin- 
tending this  arduous  task  fell  upon  a  man  who  was  also 
broken  by  labors  and  prematurely  old.  Only  one  thing 
could  make  his  hard  task  possible,  and  that  was  the  love,  the 
confidence  and  the  generosity  of  St.  Mary's  congregation. 
If  this  new  and  last  church  has  been  completed,  or  nearly 
so,  it  is  because  that  love,  that  confidence,  and  that  gene- 
rosity has  never  failed.  Glad  am  I  on  an  occasion  so  mem- 
orable as  this,  in  the  presence  of  so  many  strangers,  assem- 
bled in  dear  old  St.  Mary's,  to  offer  this  tribute  to  you,  my 
dear  brethren,  who  have  stood  by  me  during  the  past  twenty 
years  so  faithful  and  so  strong. 

103 


CONCLUSION. 

And  now  let  me  be  silent  and  let  this  present  spectacle 
speak.  What  is  it  we  see  before  us  to-day  ?  What  does  this 
temple  say  ?  What  voices  come  to  us  from  its  pillars  and 
its  arches,  from  its  organ  and  its  altar,  and  from  this  unusual 
concourse  of  worshippers  ?  Here  are  chiefs  and  braves  and 
women  representatives  of  the  Kanienga-haka,  and  other 
Iroquois  who  once  peopled  these  valleys  and  hills  which  to- 
day we  occupy.  Although  now  Christians  and  Catholics, 
they  may  be  taken  to  represent  that  heathenism,  and  darkness 
of  superstition  which  once  reigned  here.  But  now  they  are 
one  with  us,  in  the  same  holy  faith,  and  the  same  great 
hopes  for  eternity.  They  have  among  them  those  who 
know  how  to  chant  the  same  solemn  canticles  of  the 
church  in  honor  of  the  same  Lord  and  Savior.  Welcome, 
dear  brothers  of  the  Konochioni !  Your  fathers  were 
once  our  most  dangerous  foes.  We  hail  you  now  as  among 
our  dearest  friends  !  Welcome  to  our  city,  welcome  to  our 
church.  That  faithful  martyr,  Isaac  Jogues,  is  father  to 
you  and  father  to  us.  Young  Rene  Goupil,  whose  un- 
discovered body  still  lies  in  the  bed  of  the  torrent  at  the  foot 
of  the  hill  of  Ossernenon,  is  brother  to  us  all,  and  Catherine 
Tegakwita,  the  sweet  Lilly  of  the  Mohawks,  is  our  little 
sister. 

What  unaccustomed  faces  are  these  that  occupy  this 
morning  so  many  of  our  front  pews.  They  are  something 
more  than  fellow-citizens.  They  are  the  civil  authorities  of 
our  city.  They  have  come  here  on  this  Bi-centennial  Sun- 
day to  recognize  God  and  honor  religion.  They  have  come 
here  expressly  and  publicly  to  acknowledge  that  all  authority 
upon  earth  rests  upon  the  higher  authority  of  heaven,  and 
that  Albany,  ancient  Albany,  is  a  religious  and  a  Christian 
city.  They,  too,  are  heartily  welcome.  And  who  are  these 
that  we  have  seen  standing  in  our  midst  in  military  attire, 
with  their  arms  in  their  hands,  and  helmeted  Hke  soldiers 
ready  for  action  ?  They,  together  with  the  chiefs  and  pa- 
trolmen of  the  police,  represent  law,  order  and  obedience  to 
duty ;  and  that  the  truest  love  of  country  is  that  which  has 
its  source  in  the  love  of  God.  They,  too,  are  welcome. 
And  now  let  us  turn  our  thoughts  directly  to  the  altar.  It 
represents  to  us  the  authority  of  God,  the  claims  of  God, 
God's  protection,  God's  love,  God's  mercy,  the  foundation 
of  all  our  hopes  in  God.     O  may  the  dear  Son  of  God,  who 

104 


shed  His  blood  for  us  upon  the  cross,  give  His  blessing  now 
to  our  beloved  country;  to  the  State  of  New  York,  to  the 
city  of  Albany,  to  the  parish  of  St.  Mary's :  inflame  our 
hearts  with  the  deepest  gratitude  for  His  past  favors  and  with 
well-founded  hopes  of  His  future  protection  and  of  final  sal- 
vation. 

THE   MUSICAL   PROGRAMME. 

A  magnificent  [musical  programme  was  rendered 
during  the  service  by  the  choir  of  the  church,  under 
the  direction  of  Prof.  Peter  Schneider,  assisted  by 
Parlati's  orchestra.  The  choir  consists  of  sixty  voices, 
and  the  manner  in  which  they  rendered  the  difficult 
music  selected  for  the  occasion  reflected  great  credit 
not  only  upon  them,  but  upon  their  conductor,  Mr. 
John  Cassidy,  and  Prof.  Schneider.  The  solo  parts 
were  excellently  sung  by  Mrs.  Peter  Schneider  and 
Miss  Josephine  Lyons,  sopranos ;  Miss  Jennie  T. 
Gilligan,  alto ;  Mr.  J.  T.  V.  McCrone,  tenor,  and  Mr. 
John  J.  Cassidy,  basso.  At  the  offertory  Hummel's 
grand  "Alma  Virgo,"  soprano  obligato  and  chorus, 
was  rendered  with  excellent  effect. 

The  Jackson  corps,  during  the  ceremony,  went 
through  appropriate  evolutions.  At  the  reading  of 
the  gospel  they  presented  arms,  as  they  did  also  at 
the  entrance  of  Father  Walworth  and  the  prayer  for 
inspiration.  After  the  reading  of  the  text  they  gave 
the  military  salute,  and  during  the  reading  of  the  Te 
Deum  the  corps  uncovered  their  heads.  The  only 
time  they  were  seated  was  during  the  sermon,  when 
arms  were  stacked.  They  saluted  also  at  the  elevation 
of  the  host,  when  the  rolling  of  the  drum  and  sound  of 
the  cornet,  blending  with  the  strains  of  the  organ, 
produced  a  most  stirring  effect. 

105 


At  the  conclusion  of  the  mass  Father  Walworth 
announced  that  the  Te  Deum  would  be  sung  in  Eng- 
lish, in  thanksgiving  for  the  blessing  bestowed  on  the 
city  during  its  200  years  of  existence.  The  grand  old 
hymn  sung  by  the  entire  multitude  rang  through  the 
building  in  loudest  tones,  led  by  the  organ  and  or- 
chestra. 

MADISON  AVENUE  REFORMED  CHURCH. 
The  union  services  of  the  Reformed  churches  of  the 
city,  at  the  Madison  avenue  church,  were  not  the  least 
notable  feature  of  the  opening  day.  This  denomination 
is  the  oldest  in  the  city,  and  the  first  congregation 
dates  its  history  to  a  period  almost  half  a  century  before 
Albany  became  a  chartered  city.  For  this  reason  a 
special  interest  attached  to  those  services  which  be- 
longed to  none  of  the  others.  As  early  as  nine 
o'clock  the  audience  began  to  assemble,  and  shortly 
thereafter  the  Hollanders  marched  to  the  church  in  a 
body.  By  the  time  the  opening  anthem  was  sung, 
the  church  was  crowded  to  the  doors,  and  even  the 
Sunday  school  and  prayer-meeting  rooms  were  occu- 
pied. The  church  was  tastily  and  appropriately  decor- 
ated. Flags  were  wound  from  the  gallery  and  choir 
loft,  and  the  pulpit  and  chancel  were  banked  up  with 
potted  plants.  There  was  also  a  liberal  display  of  cut 
flowers.  One  magnificent  floral  emblem  was  a  minia- 
ture of  the  old  Dutch  church  which  stood  on  the  cor- 
ner of  State,  Market  and  Court  streets  a  century  ago. 
In  honor  of  the  occasion  an  old  office  in  the  church 
was  revived,  that  of  voorleser,  which  was  filled  by  Elder 
Stephen  McC.  La  Grange.     Standing  at  the  voorleser's 

106 


desk,  an  ancient  piece  of  church  furniture  brought 
from  Holland  when  the  city  was  young,  he  read  the 
commandments.  The  pastors  of  the  three  Reformed 
churches  were  present  and  in  turn  conducted  the 
order  of  services — the  Rev.  VV.  R.  Davis,  D.D.,  the 
Rev.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman  and  the  Rev.  Joseph  Paige 
Davis.  A  most  notable  feature  of  the  services  was 
the  music  under  the  direction  of  Prof.  E.  A.  Bedell, 
organist.  The  number  which  attracted  most  at- 
tention was  Bishop  Doane's  hymn,  with  music  by 
Prof.  Jeffery,  "Ancient  of  Days,"  which  was  magnifi- 
cently rendered.  Beautiful  programmes,  contain- 
ing illustrations  of  the  seal  of  the  Dongan  charter  and 
of  the  old  church  before  alluded  to,  were  distributed. 
The  sermon  was  by  the  Rev.  David  D.  Demorest,  of 
New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  and  was  as  follows  : 

"And  all  thy  children  shall  be  taught  of  the  Lord,  and 
great  shall  be  the  peace  of  thy  children.  In  righteousness 
shalt  thou  be  established ;  thou  shalt  be  far  from  oppression 
— for  thou  shalt  not  fear ;  and  from  terror,  for  it  shall  not 
come  near  thee." — Isaiah,  liv;   13,  14. 

It  augurs  well  for  the  successful  carrying  out  of  the  pro- 
gramme for  the  week  that  the  devout  recognition  of  God 
has  been  placed  at  the  front.  What  could  be  more  appro- 
priate than  that  the  citizens  of  Albany  should,  on  this  first 
day  of  the  week,  the  Lord's  day  preceding  the  days  to  be 
occupied  with  various  exercises  and  festivities,  assemble  in 
their  respective  houses  of  worship,  to  call  to  mind  with 
thankfulness  God's  goodness  to  their  fathers  and  to  acknowl- 
edge the  good  hand  of  the  Lord,  whereby  from  the  feeble 
beginnings  of  two  and  a  half  centuries  ago  their  city  has 
reached  its  present  proud  position  as  the  capital  of  the  Em- 
pire State  and  a  city  known  throughout  the  civilized  world. 
The  beginnings  of  the  settlement  at  Fort  Orange  were  small 
indeed.  How  small  we  can  scarcely  conceive,  when  we 
survey  your  city  as  it  now  is  and  contemplate  the  number  of 
its  inhabitants,  its  imposing  buildings,  its  commercial  im- 

107 


portance,  its  educational  institutions,  its  wealth,  its  social 
character,  and  in  short,  all  the  elements  that  make  a  pros- 
perous city,  and  one  to  be  desired  for  a  home.  You  may 
well  be  excused  for  claiming  with  Paul  that  you  are  citizens 
of  "  no  mean  city."  This  service  is  especially  appropriate 
when  we  consider  that  the  tendency  has  always  been,  and  it 
has  never  been  stronger  than  it  is  to-day,  to  lose  sight  of  the 
First  Great  Cause  while  contemplating  the  confessedly  im- 
portant, manifest  second  causes,  and  so  we  give  all  the  honor 
to  the  latter  and  none  to  the  former.  We  attribute  the 
founding  and  the  growth  of  cities  and  states  to  the  wise  use 
men  of  genius,  foresight  and  energy  have  made  of  circum- 
stances ;  and  for  all  material  prosperity,  intellectual  elevation 
and  progress  in  civilization  give  glory  to  the  marvelous  pow- 
ers of  which  man  is  possessed.  We  stand,  as  we  well  may, 
amazed  and  overwhelmed  in  presence  of  man's  wonderful 
successes  in  discovering  and  applying  and  subjecting  to  his 
own  will  the  forces  of  nature,  and  in  so  training  the  powers 
of  his  mind  as  to  make  them  more  and  more  capable  of  higher 
achievement.  Ere  we  are  aware  we  find  ourselves  offering 
to  the  human  intellect  the  incense  of  devotion  which  belongs 
to  the  Father  of  Spirits  only.  We  courteously  leave  a  little 
corner  of  the  vast  field  of  human  experience  and  action  for 
the  occupancy  of  supernatural  forces,  if  indeed  there  be  such, 
to  which  they  may  retire  who  take  an  interest  in  such  mat- 
ters, and  where  speculative,  devout,  unworldly  people  may 
find  amusement  and,  perchance,  comfort.  A  few  are  bold 
enough  to  invade  even  that  little  territory  and  to  take  God 
out  of  that  limited  domain.  They  treat  the  question  of  the 
existence  of  the  Supreme  Being  scientifically  as  they  do  man, 
beast,  insect,  steam  or  electricity.  They  put  into  their  cru- 
cible him  who  holds  the  universe  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand, 
and  in  the  last  analysis  find  nothing — no  God. 

THE    RELIGIOUS    ELEMENT    ACKNOWLEDGED. 

Now  the  fact  that  you  have  invited  a  minister  of  religion 
to  come  to  you,  to  gather  up  and  to  interpret  the  lessons  of 
the  past,  and  to  help  you  to  see,  and  to  appreciate  the  po- 
tent and  extensive  influence  of  religion  and  of  the  church  of 
God  in  the  founding  and  building  up  of  your  city,  shows 
that  you  have  no  sympathy  with  the  holders  of  this  atheistic 
principle.  And  besides,  for  confirmation  of  this,  we  need 
only  look  at  your  scores  of  temples  devoted  to  the  worship 

1 08 


of  the  true  and  living  God,  and  to  mark  the  crowds  that  on 
every  returning  holy  day  throng  their  portals,  and  to  the  re- 
ligious organizations  and  institutions  which  proclaim  the 
universal  recognition  of  the  God  in  whom  we  believe  and 
move  and  have  our  being.  While,  therefore,  some  men 
may  think  that  cities  and  states  can  be  founded  and  made 
prosperous  and  mighty  without  God,  you  do  not  think  so, 
and  we  cannot  think  so.  The  experiment  has  been  fairly 
tried.  History  is  full  of  examples  of  its  failure.  God  lias 
always  seen  to  it,  and  he  always  will  see  to  it,  that  such  efforts 
come  to  naught.  "  For  the  nation  and  kingdom  that  will 
not  serve  Thee  shall  perish."  "  Righteousness  exalteth  a  na- 
tion." God  was  devoutly  recognized  by  Columbus  in  his 
first  act,  after  he  had  planted  his  feet  on  the  soil  of  San  Sal- 
vador. "  He,  with  his  company,  gave  thanks  to  God  kneel- 
ing upon  the  shore,  and  kissing  the  ground  with  tears  of  joy 
for  the  great  mercy  received."  We  also  find  the  religious 
element  connected  with  the  founding  of  all  the  colonies.  It 
was  a  most  important  factor  in  all  movements  and  measures 
connected  with  their  early  history.  It  pervaded  and  to  a 
large  extent  dominated  them.  We  always  find  provision  for 
the  maintenance  of  worship  and  a  reverent  observance  of  the 
forms  and  ordinances  of  religion,  and  it  is  remarkable  how 
much  of  the  early  colonial  legislation  was  occupied  with  these 
things.  Yet  we  ought  not  to  wonder  at  this  when  we  call  to 
mind  the  close  alliance  of  church  and  state  in  Europe,  they 
being  parts  of  one  organism,  so  that  it  was  a  matter  of  course 
that  care  for  religion  could  not  here  be  separated  from  care 
for  civil  affairs.  The  forms  of  religion  were  various,  accord- 
ing to  nationality,  predilection  or  the  ecclesiastical  relations 
that  had  been  held  by  the  respective  colonists  in  such  parts 
of  the  old  world  as  they  had  left  for  the  new.  We  find  the 
Roman  Catholic  bringing  his  form  of  religion  with  him  to 
Maryland ;  the  Episcopalian,  his  to  Virginia  ;  the  Quaker, 
his  to  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey ;  the  Puritan,  his  to 
New  England ;  the  Scotch  Presbyterian,  his  to  New  Jersey 
and  Pennsylvania ;  the  Netherland  Reformed,  his  to  New 
Netherland.  Every  one  of  these  has  left  a  marked  and  in- 
delible impression  on  his  respective  State.  It  was  the  Re- 
formed church  of  the  Netherlands  that  furnished  the  men 
and  women  who  came  to  occupy  the  ground  on  which  your 
city  stands,  that  provided  them  with  the  ordinances  of  reh- 
gion  and  with  men  to  administer  them,  and  with  the  system 

109 


of  instruction  and  training  enjoyed  in  the  fatherland.  Now, 
if  the  rehgious  element  brought  hither  was  a  decided  advan- 
tage to  the  infant  colony,  to  this  Reformed  church  the  credit 
for  it  under  God  belongs.  If  it  was  a  hindrance  this  same 
church  must  bear  the  blame. 

THE    REFORMED    DUTCH    CHURCH    IN    THE    OLDEN    TIME. 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  give  you,  in  this  discourse,  in 
chronological  order,  a  narrative  of  the  facts  connected  with 
the  early  settlement  of  Albany  and  its  history  antedating  the 
charter.  This  will  be  done  by  other  hands,  and  happily, 
through  the  painstaking  researches  of  your  citizens,  and 
especially  of  the  late  Mr.  Munsell,  the  materials  are  abun- 
dant and  at  hand.  My  object  is  rather  to  trace  the  religious 
influences  which  were  at  work  from  the  very  beginning  and 
which  wrought  without  observation,  yet  most  potently,  and 
to  refer  to  historical  facts  only  so  far  as  they  may  serve  for  the 
illustration  of  my  theme.  Let  us  then,  in  imagination,  go 
back  to-day,  200  years  to  1686,  the  year  in  which  you  re- 
ceived your  charter  as  a  city.  It  is  the  morning  of  the 
Lord's  day  and  we  attend  public  worship  in  the  little  church 
standing  at  the  intersection  af  Yonkers  and  Handelaers 
streets  (State  and  Market),  and  are  edified  by  the  ministra- 
tions of  the  Rev.  Godfredius  Dellius,  who  had  taken  charge 
of  the  church  in  1683,  as  the  associate  of  the  superannuated 
Dom.  Gideon  Schaets,  who  had  served  the  church  for  thirty 
years,  assisted  for  a  time  by  Dom.  Nieuenhuysen.  Its  first 
pastor  was  the  Rev.  Johannes  Megapolensis,  who  came  in 
1642,  in  fulfillment  of  a  contract  made  with  the  patroon  Van 
Rensselaer,  and  remained  six  years,  when  he  removed  to 
New  Amsterdam  where  he  continued  in  the  discharge  of  the 
pastoral  office  twenty  years,  being  in  charge  at  the  time  of  the 
surrender  to  the  British  in  1664.  The  church  building  of 
which  we  speak  was  the  second  one  occupied  by  the  con- 
gregation. The  first  one  was  a  temporary  wooden  structure, 
in  which  Dom.  Megapolensis,  after  having  held  services  in 
his  parsonage  for  three  or  four  years,  gathered  his  congrega- 
tion. "It  stood  near  the  fort,  in  what  is  now  called  Church 
street.  It  was  a  plain,  wooden  building,  34  feet  long  by  19 
wide,  furnished  with  a  pulpit  ornamented  with  a  canopy, 
pews  for  the  magistrates  and  church  officers  and  nine 
benches  for  the  people.  In  this  simple  structure  the  congre- 
gation worshipped  13  years."    The  second  building  was  also 

1 10 


of  wood,  was  erected  in  1656,  and  the  pulpit  and  bell  for  it 
were  imported  from  Holland.  The  third  edifice  was  of 
stone,  and  was  erected  in  17 15,  and  was  built  around  and 
over  the  ancient  wooden  one  the  service  being  interrupted 
but  two  Sabbaths.  In  1797  the  north  church  was  erected, 
but  services  were  continued  in  the  old  stone  church  at  the 
foot  of  State  street  until  1806,  when  it  was  taken  down  and 
replaced  by  the  south  Dutch  church,  which  was  built  on  the 
cemetery  lot  on  beaver  street,  much  of  the  material  of  the 
old  building  being  used  in  this  structure,  which  was  dedicated 
to  the  worship  of  Almighty  God  in  18 10.  Thus  there  were 
two  church  buildings,  two  assemblies  for  worship,  two  pas- 
tors, but  only  one  consistory  or  church  organization  until,  in 
18 1 5,  a  division  was  effected,  and  a  part  of  the  consistory 
and  also  of  the  property  was  assigned  to  the  South  or  Second 
church,  and  the  Rev.  Ur.  John  M.  Bradford  became  sole 
pastor  of  the  church  in  North  Pearl  street,  and  Rev.  Dr. 
John  De  Witt  the  pastor  of  the  church  in  Beaver  street.  In 
1834,  thirty  members  from  the  Beaver  street  church  were 
dismissed  to  form  the  South  Dutch  church  in  Ferry  street. 
The  Holland  and  German  churches  were  organized  in  1855. 
A  charter  of  incorporation  was  obtained  in  1720,  about  the 
time  of  the  occupancy  of  the  third,  or  stone  edifice.  We 
attend  public  worship  in  the  Dutch  church  on  the  Lord's  day 
in  1686,  not  because  we  are  absolutely  necessitated  to  do  so, 
for  there  is  a  little  Lutheran  church  which  had  been  estab- 
lished a  few  years  before  this  time.  But  the  Dutch  church 
is  the  church  of  the  place.  It  is  attended  by  the  chief  people 
and  the  vast  majority  of  the  inhabitants.  It  has  had  the 
field  entirely  to  itself  for  nearly  two  generations,  having  had 
in  the  earlier  part  of  the  time  doubtless  the  ministrations  of 
Voorleser  and  Krank-besoecker  and  subsequently  of  a  suc- 
cession of  able  and  learned  ministers  of  the  word.  It  had 
gathered  in  during  that  period  such  persons  as  had  come 
from  Old  England  or  New  England  to  make  their  home 
here.  It  was  virtually  the  one  church  to  which  Providence 
entrusted  the  religious  training  of  this  infant  community  until 
it  became  a  city  and  for  years  after  that.  Was  this,  church 
worthy  of  so  important  a  trust  ?  Was  the  trust  fulfilled  ? 
We  know  how  important  is  the  very  early  training  of  the 
child  ?  Is  the  training  of  the  infant  city  or  state  less  im- 
portant ?  We  thus  come  to  the  specific  inquiry,  what  influ- 
ence had  this  Reformed  church  of  the  Netherlands  in  the 


III 


molding  of  this  community  ?  The  only  satisfactory  way  of 
obtaining  an  answer  to  this  question  is  by  considering  the 
antecedents  and  characteristics  of  this  church,  the  results  to 
be  expected  and  the  results  actually  seen.     We  consider : 

I.    THE    PREPARED    MATERIALS. 

I  refer  to  the  men  and  women  who  came  hither  to  make 
this  place  their  home.  They  came  from  a  remarkable  train- 
ing school,  and  not  a  little  of  their  training  had  they  received 
in  the  bosom  of  this  Reformed  church.  That  same  church 
they  brought  with  them  so  that  their  children  and  children's 
children,  and  all  who  should  cast  in  their  lot  with  them, 
might  also  be  trained  in  it.  Let  us  then  go  back  to  the 
fatherland  and  inquire  whether  she  had  there  proved  herself 
worthy  of  being  intrusted  with  important  work  and  interests 
here.  When  the  first  Dutchman  came  to  Fort  Orange  about 
a  century  had  passed  since  the  first  rays  of  evangelical  truth 
had  begun  to  penetrate  the  papal  darkness  of  the  Nether- 
lands. But  in  no  country  of  Europe  were  the  doctrines  of 
the  Reformations  received  more  promptly,  generally  and 
joyfully,  and  in  none  were  greater  sacrifices  made  for  their 
maintenances.  The  persecutions  of  the  "  churches  under 
the  cross "  are  unparalled  in  history  Thousands  gave  up 
possessions,  country  and  life  for  the  sake  of  the  word  of 
God,  scriptural  worship  and  liberty  to  serve  God  as  con- 
science might  dictate.  The  contest  with  the  Spaniard  in 
this  afflicted  country  was  alike  for  civil  and  religious  liberty, 
and  nobly  and  heroically  was  it  maintained  for  eighty  years. 
But  out  of  it  came  the  Dutch  repubHc,  the  leading  commer- 
cial nation  of  Europe,  the  home  of  the  oppressed,  the  seat 
of  learning,  the  mistress  of  the  seas,  and  also  the  Reformed 
church  of  the  Netherlands,  with  her  learned  divines,  sound 
doctrines,  orderly  worship,  representative  government  and 
tolerent,  catholic  and  missionary  spirit. 

THE    TRAINING    SCHOOL. 

Now,  these  almost  one  hundred  years  were  years  that  tried 
men's  §ouls.  They  constituted  a  protracted,  continuous 
school  of  discipline  for  three  generations  of  people,  and  such 
as  no  other  people  have  ever  been  placed  in  who  yet  survived 
and  even  triumphed.  Their  neighbors,  the  Huguenots,  suf- 
fered as  they  did,  but  their  oppressors  were  in  power  in  their 
own  land,  and  they  triumphed.     But  here  men  were  born  in 


1 12 


the  midst  of  the  conflict,  they  died  while  it  was  going  on, 
and  they  beqeathed  the  fight  to  their  children.  Through 
the  firmness  and  perseverence  of  successive  generations  peace 
and  prosperity  came  at  last.  Where,  in  this  wide  world, 
could  a  training  school  like  this  have  been  found  at  that 
time  for  men  and  women  who  were  to  be  intrusted  with  the 
founding  of  a  State  or  city  in  this  western  world  ?  We  can 
never  cease  to  abhor  and  to  execrate  the  infamous  tyranny 
of  Spain ;  but  what  if  she  had  taken  a  different  course  and 
had  readily  allowed  to  her  Dutch  subjects  the  liberty  they 
had  to  fight  for  ?  Who  can  tell  what  the  result  would  have 
been  ?  Would  the  Dutchmen  of  the  opening  years  of  the 
seventeenth  century  have  been  what  they  were  ?  Would 
they  have  had  the  faith,  the  firmness,  the  enterprise,  the  sim- 
plicity, the  frugality,  the  energy  and  the  tolerant  spirit  which 
they  now  possessed  ?  Would  they,  in  a  word,  have  been  so 
well  qualified  to  be  the  pioneers  in  the  founding  of  a  new 
state  ?  Did  not  God  use  the  wrath  and  folly  of  Spain  for 
the  good  of  America,  for  the  good  of  New  Netherland,  for 
the  good  of  Albany  ?  "  They,"  says  Dr.  Storrs,  "  brought 
the  patience,  the  enterprise  and  the  courage,  the  indomitable 
spirit  and  the  hatrid  of  tyranny  into  which  they  had  been 
bom,  into  which  their  nation  had  been  baptized  with  blood." 
Would  it  not  have  been  a  pity  if  they  had  missed  their  severe 
training  ?  And  they  came  not  as  men  who  were  escaping 
from  raging  fires  and  seeking  for  safety  and  rest,  but  after 
these  fires  had  been  put  out,  and  peace  and  prosperity  filled 
the  land,  and  their  homes  were  undisturbed,  and  yet  before 
prosperity  had  bred  the  enervating  influences  which  always 
in  time  spring  from  it.  They  came  of  their  own  accord, 
simply  to  advance  their  temporal  interests,  but  they  could 
only  care  for  these  interests  in  accordance  with  the  character 
that  had  been  formed  by  the  experiences  of  the  century. 
They  came  as  acknowledged  freemen,  bringing  the  virtues 
into  which  they  had  been  discipHned,  and  also  the  church 
which  had  been  to  them  and  their  fathers  so  tender  a  nurse, 
so  true  a  mentor  and  so  efficient  an  educator. 


THE    WALLOONS. 

While  we  thus  speak  of  the  early  Dutch  colonists  and 
their  training,  we  must  not  forget  the  French  element  con- 
nected with  them,  and  which  was  of  great  value.     The  first 


113 


company  that  came  in  1623,  with  Capt.  Cornelius  Jacobson 
May,  to  make  an  agricultural  settlement  in  New  Netherland, 
was  composed  of  thirty  families,  chiefly  Walloons ;  and  of 
this  company  eighteen  families  were  brought  to  Fort  Orange. 
The  Walloons  were  the  Protestants  of  the  Southern  Nether- 
lands, or  Belgium,  who,  driven  by  prosecution  across  the 
border,  made  their  homes  in  Northern  Netherlands,  and 
formed  churches  in  which  their  native  French  was  used. 
The  Huguenots  came  from  the  northeastern  provinces  of 
France  and  joined  their  Walloon  brethren  in  Holland. 
Many  of  these  who  had  been  domiciled  in  Holland  came 
to  New  Netherland.  Agreeing  with  the  Dutch  in  doctrine, 
church  polity  and  ritual  and  being  familiar  with  their  lan- 
guage, they  identified  themselves  with  them.  While  in  a 
few  places,  as  Staten  Island,  New  Paltz  and  Hackensack  in 
New  Jersey,  they  maintained  worship  in  their  own  tongue 
for  a  time,  in  New  York  alone  they  were  able  to  maintain  it 
permanently.  The  French  Protestants  were  as  true  and 
loyal  members  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  churches  as  were 
the  native  Hollanders  themselves.  Almost  every  church 
had  more  or  less  of  them.  They  were  more  refined,  grace- 
ful, versatile  and  vivacious  than  the  Dutch,  and  what  they 
brought  of  national  characteristics  and  peculiar  culture  was 
so  much  added  to  the  very  solid  material  furnished  by  the 
Dutch.  "  Their  influence  has  been  compared  to  the  gold 
which  some  one  cast  into  the  mould  filled  with  the  melted 
metals  which  were  to  compose  the  great  bell  of  Moscow  — 
the  gold  was  not  much  in  quantity,  but  it  gave  to  the  great 
bell  a  fineness  of  tone  and  a  melodious  ring  it  would  not 
have  possessed  without  it." 

THE    WIVES    AND    MOTHERS. 

I  must  not  leave  this  part  of  my  subject  without  speaking 
of  the  wives  and  mothers  who  came  hither,  having  been 
trained  in  the  same  school  with  their  husbands.  Who  can 
tell  how  much  Albany  owes  to  these  wives  and  mothers  ? 
The  Dutch  husband  treated  his  wife  with  what  one  has 
called  "respectful  adoration."  He  did  not  often  "com- 
mence any  undertaking,  whether  public  or  private,  without 
first  consulting  the  partner  of  his  cares;  and  it  is  even  said 
that  some  of  the  statesmen  most  distinguished  for  their 
influence  in  the  affairs  of  their  own  country  and  Europe  in 
general  were  accustomed  to  receive  instructions  at  home  to 

114 


which  they  ventured  not  to  go  counter.  But  the  diminion 
of  these  lordly  dames,  all  dispotic  though  it  were,  was  ever 
exerted  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  obeyed.  It  was  the 
earnest  and  undaunted  sjiirit  of  their  women  which  encour- 
aged the  Dutch  to  dare,  and  their  calm  fortitude  to  endure 
the  toils,  privations  and  sufferings  of  the  first  years  of  the 
war  of  independence  against  Spain  ;  it  was  their  activity  and 
terift  in  the  management  of  their  private  incomes  that  sup- 
plied them  with  the  means  of  defraying  an  amount  of  na- 
tional expenditure  wholly  unexampled  in  history ;  and  to 
their  influence  is  to  be  ascribed,  above  all,  the  decorum  of 
manners  and  the  purity  of  morals,  for  which  the  society  of 
Holland  has  at  all  times  been  remarkable."  (Davie's  Hol- 
land and  the  Dutch,  vol.  3,  p.  381.)  Broadhead  says: 
"  The  empire  which  the  sex  obtained  was  no  greater  than 
that  which  their  beauty,  good  sense,  virtue  and  devotion  well 
entitled  them  to  hold.  They  mingled  in  all  the  active  affairs 
of  life  and  were  always  consulted  with  deferential  respect. 
Their  habits  of  business  enabled  them  to  manage  with  skill 
and  advantage  the  interests  which  their  husbands  confidently 
entrusted  to  their  care.  They  loved  their  homes  and  their 
firesides,  but  they  loved  their  country  more.  Through  all 
their  toils  and  struggles,  the  calm  fortitude  of  the  men  of 
Holland  was  nobly  encouraged  and  sustained  by  the  earnest 
and  undaunted  spirit  of  their  mothers  and  wives."  (History 
of  New  York,  vol.  I,  p.  263.) 

II.    THE    SYSTEM    OF    DOCTRINE. 

The  system  brought  hither  by  the  colonists  was  that  in 
which  they  had  been  trained  from  childhood,  and  which 
they  were  teaching  to  their  cliildren,  the  system  whose  cor- 
ner-stone is  the  doctrine  of  God's  sovereignty  in  grace  as 
well  as  in  nature  and  jjrovidence,  called  Calvinism,  not  be- 
cause Calvin  originated  it,  but  because  he  most  successfully 
formulated  it  and  put  upon  it  the  impress  of  his  masterly 
genuis.  It  is  a  system  just  as  far  removed  from  fatalism 
on  the  one  hand  as  from  sentimentalism  on  the  other.  It 
is  not  in  place  to-day,  even  if  we  had  the  time  to  expound 
this  system,  nor  to  give  the  proofs  of  its  scripturalness,  nor 
to  answer  the  objections  brought  against  it.  And  yet  I  may 
be  allowed  to  suggest  that  it  is  possible  that  some  who  de- 
nounce it  may  not  understand  it  as  well  as  they  might,  that 
a  caricature  is  a  very  different  thing  from  a  true  likeness, 

115 


and  that  the  study  of  the  carefully  and  beautifully-expressed 
articles  of  the  synod  of  Dort  on  the  five  controverted  heads 
of  doctrine  will  well  repay  every  thinking  man,  even  though 
he  should  decline  to  accept  them.  But  this  we  are  bold  to 
affirm,  that  it  is  a  system  which  has  produced  many  of  the 
world's  most  profound  thinkers  and  most  glorious  heroes, 
that  it  has  developed  all  the  manly  virtues  and  made  sturdy 
Christians  and  sturdy  citizens,  and  produced  the  stuff"  of 
which  not  only  martyrs  to  the  faith  are  made,  but  also  incor- 
ruptible magistrates,  and  people  who  can  be  neither  bought 
nor  sold.  Surely  we  need  not,  in  the  fight  of  history,  be 
ashamed  of  the  doctrine  taught  in  the  articles  of  the  church 
of  England,  the  canons  of  Dort,  and  the  confession  of  West- 
minister, and  which  lie  at  the  foundation  of  the  New  Eng- 
land commonwealth,  and  of  this  Empire  State.  How  could 
it  be  otherwise,  since  the  whole  tendency  of  the  system  is  to 
exalt  God,  and  man  is  lifted  up  toward  God,  when  God  is 
exalted  in  his  conceptions.  When  God  is  brought  down, 
man  sinks  so  much  the  lower.  Would  we  then  have  true 
manliness  and  the  highest  type  of  civic  virtue,  let  us  have 
the  highest  possible  conceptions  of  God,  and  let  them  with- 
out hindrance  shape  our  lives.  The  tree  is  known  by  its 
fruit.  Be  not  afraid  to  test  a  doctrinal  system  by  its  prac- 
tical effects.  "  It  is  enough,"  says  Froude,  "  to  mention  the 
name  of  WilHam  the  Silent,  of  Luther  —  for  on  the  points 
of  which  I  am  speaking  Luther  was  one  with  Calvin  —  of 
your  own  Knox  and  Andrew  Mellville,  and  the  Regent 
Murray,  of  Coligny,  of  our  English  Cromwell,  of  Milton, 
of  John  Bunyan.  These  were  men  possessed  of  all  the  qual- 
ities which  give  nobility  and  grandeur  to  human  nature  ; 
men  whose  life  was  as  upright  as  their  intellect  was  com- 
manding, and  their  public  aims  untainted  with  selfishness ; 
unalterably  just  where  duty  required  them  to  be  stern,  but 
with  the  tenderness  of  a  woman  in  their  hearts ;  frank,  true, 
cheerful,  humorous,  as  unlike  sour  fanatics  as  it  is  possible 
to  imagine  any  one,  and  able  in  some  way  to  sound  the 
key-note  to  which  every  brave  and  faithful  heart  in  Europe 
instinctivety  vibrated."  (Froude's  Calvinism,  p.  7.)  A  prom- 
inent writer  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  has  said  of 
Calvinism  :  "  It  is  the  clearest  and  most  comprehensive  sys- 
tem of  doctrine  ever  formed.  *  *  *  We  concede  to  the 
Calvinistic  churches  the  honor  of  having  all  along  directed 
the  best  religious  thinking  of  the  country.     Some  of  the  best 

116 


fruits  of  religious  life  and  the  noblest  specimens  of  the  Chris- 
tian character  have  been  exhibited  among  those  who  have 
been,  at  least  in  theory,  Calvinists."  This  faith  was  alike 
the  inspirer  and  the  bulwark  of  civic  and  religious  liberty. 
"  We  may,"  says  our  great  historian,  George  Bancroft,  "  as 
repubhcans  remember  that  Calvin  was  not  only  the  founder 
of  a  sect,  but  foremost  among  the  most  efficient  of  modern 
republican  legislators.  More  truly  benevolent  to  the  human 
race  than  Solon,  more  self-denying  than  Lycurgus,  the  genus 
of  Calvin  infused  enduring  elements  into  the  institutions  of 
Geneva  and  made  it  for  the  moral  world  the  impregnable 
fortress  of  popular  liberty,  the  fertile  seed-plot  of  democracy 
*  *  *.  Alone  in  the  world,  alone  in  a  strange  land,  he 
went  forward  in  his  career  with  serene  resignation  and  inflex- 
ible firmness.  No  love  of  ease  turned  him  aside  from  his 
vigils ;  no  fear  of  danger  relaxed  the  nerve  of  his  eloquence  ; 
no  bodily  infirmities  checked  the  immediate  activity  of  his 
mind  ;  and  so  he  continued  year  after  year,  solitary  and 
feeble,  yet  toiling  for  humanity,  till  after  a  life  of  glory,  he 
bequeathed  to  his  personal  heirs  a  fortune  in  books  and  fur- 
niture, stocks  and  money  not  exceeding  $200,  and  to  the 
world  a  purer  reformation,  a  republican  spirit  in  religion, 
with  the  kindred  principles  of  republican  liberty."  (Ban- 
croft's miscellanies,  p.  406.)  The  fathers  of  Albany  were 
disciples  of  Calvin. 

III.    THE    EDUCATIONAL    SYSTEM. 

The  Dutch  of  the  i6th  and  17th  centuries  appreciated  the 
incalculable  importance  of  the  education,  both  religious  and 
secular,  of  the  young,  and  they  made  the  wisest  and  fullest 
provision  for  it  in  their  power.  Their  universities  founded 
for  the  training  of  young  men  in  the  classics,  philosophy, 
jurisprudence,  medicine  and  theology  soon  became  famous, 
but  provision  was  also  made  for  popular,  universal  education 
in  the  fundamentals  of  religion  and  also  in  the  primary 
branches  of  secular  studies.  Count  John  of  Nassau,  the 
elder  brother  of  William  the  Silent,  said  :  "  You  must  urge 
upon  the  states  general  that  they  should  establish  free  schools 
where  children  of  quality  as  well  as  of  poor  families  for  a 
small  sum  could  be  well  and  christianly  educated  and  brought 
up.  This  would  be  the  greatest  and  most  useful  work  you 
could  ever  accomplish  for  God  and  Christianity,  for  the 
Netherlands  themselves."    (Cent,  discourses,  p.  209.)     Thus 

117 


we  see  that  our  free,  public  school  system,  of  which  we  justly 
boast,  and  for  which  we  proudly  claim  an  American  origin, 
was  in  its  germ  and  essential  features  anticipated  by  the 
Dutch  in  the  Netherlands  three  centuries  ago.  "  The  New 
England  pilgrims,"  says  Motley,  "  during  their  residence  in 
the  glorious  country  of  Holland  found  already  estabhshed 
the  system  of  free  schools  which  John  of  Nassau  had  recom- 
mended." (Letter  to  St.  Nicholas  society,  1869.)  The 
church  took  her  share  in  this  matter  of  education  and 
worked  in  harmonious  co-operation  with  the  State.  While 
the  schools  were  provided  and  supported  by  the  state,  and 
the  children  were  taught  the  ordinary  branches  of  secular 
education,  the  church  saw  to  it  that  in  their  schools  the 
truths  of  religion  were  taught.  The  schoolmaster  was 
usually  also  the  voorleser  who  performed  certain  parts 
of  the  service  in  the  Church  on  the  Lord's  day,  and,  of 
course,  was  required  to  be  a  member  of  the  church.  He 
was  by  no  means  an  unimportant  person  in  a  Dutch  com- 
munity, and  was  amenable  to  church  and  state  for  the  per- 
formance of  his  duties.  We  may  add  that  the  state  was  not 
indifferent  to  the  religious  education,  and  that  the  church 
was  quite  as  deeply  concerned  for  the  secular  education  as 
was  the  state.  Says  Brodhead  :  "  Neither  the  perils  of  war, 
nor  the  busy  pursuits  of  gain,  nor  the  excitement  of  political 
strife  ever  caused  the  Dutch  to  neglect  the  duty  of  educating 
their  offsprings  to  enjoy  the  freedom  for  which  their  fathers 
had  fought.  Schools  were  everywhere  provided  at  the  pub- 
lic expense,  with  good  schoolmasters  to  instruct  the  children 
of  all  classes  in  the  usual  branches  of  education ;  and  the 
consistories  of  the  churches  took  zealous  care  to  have  their 
youth  thoroughly  taught  the  catechism  and  the  articles  of 
rehgion."  (History  of  New  York,  vol.  I,  p.  462.)  If  any 
one  will  take  the  pains  to  examine  the  acts  of  the  early  synods 
of  the  churches  of  the  Netherlands,  beginning  with  that  of 
Wesel  in  1568,  he  will  find  that  by  every  one  of  them  great 
stress  was  laid  upon  the  religious  education  of  the  children 
and  the  youth.  The  baptismal  dedication  of  the  infant  was 
accompanied  with  the  explicit  and  solemn  promise  that  it 
should  be  instructed  in  the  truths  of  the  Christian  religion. 
The  method  of  religious  training  established  by  the  synod  of 
Dort  in  1618  cannot  but  excite  admiration  for  its  complete- 
ness. That  august  body  of  learned  divines  did  not  consider 
it  beneath  them  to  formally  adopt  a  primary  catechism  for 

118 


the  use  of  the  youngest  children,  also  to  provide  the  "  com- 
pendium for  the  instruction  of  candidates  for  the  Lord's 
supper  "  and  to  enjoin  the  use  of  the  Heidelberg  catechism 
in  teaching  more  advanced  pupils  and  for  regular  exposi- 
tion from  the  pulpit  to  the  congregation  on  the  Lord's  day. 
The  agencies  for  carrying  out  this  method  were  threefold, 
and  the  church  was  to  see  to  it  that  every  one  performed  his 
work.  I.  Parents:  They  were  to  be  enquired  of  in  the 
pastorial  visitations  whether  they  faithfully  and  diligently 
mstructed  their  children  and  households  in  the  Christian 
reUgion ;  whether  they  maintained  family  worship  ;  whether 
they  placed  their  children  under  the  preaching  of  God's 
word,  and  earnestly  and  carefully  exhorted  them  to  the  cul- 
tivation of  true  piety.  Parents  who  were  negligent  were  to 
be  admonished  by  the  minister  and,  if  necessary,  censured 
by  the  consistory.  2.  Schoolmasters  :  They  were  required  to 
be  of  upright  and  pious  life,  to  subscribe  to  the  confession 
of  faith  and  the  Heidelberg  catechism ;  to  teach  and  care- 
fully expound  the  catechism  twice  a  week ;  to  bring  their 
pupils  to  the  hearing  of  God's  word  preached  and  to  examine 
them  on  the  matter  of  the  sermons  heard  by  them.  3.  Min- 
isters and  Elders  :  These  were  to  visit  the  schools,  to  counsel, 
encourage,  and,  if  necessary,  admonish  the  teachers  and  to 
examine  the  children.  The  ministers  were  to  expound  the 
catechism  from  the  pulpit  in  short  sermons,  suited  for  chil- 
dren as  well  as  adults.  We  cannot  but  see  that  as  a  result  of 
this  system  faithfully  carried  out  it  was  next  to  impossible  for 
a  child  to  grow  up  in  Holland  ignorant  of  the  ordinary  ele- 
mentary branches  of  a  secular  education.  Scarcely  could 
one  be  found  unable  to  read,  or  to  sign  his  name  to  a  docu- 
ment, or  to  work  out  a  problem  in  simple  arithmetic.  And 
as  to  religious  education  we  cannot  well  see  how  any  one 
could  escape  an  indoctrination  that  qualified  them  to  under- 
stand the  sermons  of  their  preachers,  to  argue  with  them  on 
disputed  points,  and  to  fill  the  office  of  elders,  whose  duty  it 
is  "  particularly  to  have  regard  unto  the  doctrine  and  con- 
versation of  the  ministers  of  the  word,"  and  to  see  to  it,  that 
"  no  strange  doctrine  be  taught."  No  other  country  in  the 
world  could  at  that  time  show  such  a  general  diffusion  of 
secular  and  religious  education  among  the  whole  people  as 
was  found  in  Holland.  The  emigrants  who  came  hither 
had  not  only  the  benefits  of  that  system,  but  they  brought 
it  with  them  and  established  it  here,  so  far  as  was  possible 

119 


under  different  circumstances.  The  West  India  company 
was  pledged  to  maintain  it.  The  church  and  school  worked  to- 
gether in  this  matter.  The  church  inquired  into  the  fidelity  of 
parents,  schoolmasters  were  here  required  to  perform  the  same 
service  that  schoolmasters  were  performing  in  the  fatherland, 
ministers  and  elders  made  their  visitations  and  had  their 
catechetical  classes.  Think  you  that  this  was  a  detriment  to 
the  infant  community  here  ?  Situated  as  we  now  are,  with 
state  and  church  completely  divorced,  with  heterogeneous 
religious  elements  in  every  community,  we  encounter  serious 
problems  in  this  work  of  education,  and  which  are  very  diffi- 
cult of  solution.  But  can  we  fail  to  see  that  an  indissoluble 
marriage  tie,  binding  together  the  religious  and  secular,  is 
the  desirable  ideal,  which,  alas !  it  seems  impossible  for  us 
now  fully  to  realize.  Let  us  be  thankful  that  our  fathers 
had  it.  It  has  been  thought  by  some  that  the  tendency  of 
this  system  of  catechetical  instruction  was  to  fill  the  church 
with  orthodox  formalists,  since  persons  were  received  to  the 
communion  who  could  recite  the  catechism,  while  vital  and 
experimental  religion  was  lost  sight  of.  Let  me  correct  this 
by  quoting  from  the  acts  of  the  synod  of  Dort,  as  follows  : 
"  Those  who  desire  to  unite  with  the  church  shall,  three  or 
four  weeks  before  the  administration  of  the  Lord's  supper, 
be  more  carefully  and  frequently  instructed  that  they  may 
be  better  qualified  and  be  more  free  to  give  a  satisfactory 
account  of  their  faith.  The  ministers  shall  employ  diligent 
care  to  ascertain  those  who  give  any  hopeful  evidence  of 
serious  concern  for  the  salvation  of  their  soul  and  invite  them 
to  them,  assembling  those  together  who  have  like  impres- 
sions and  encouraging  to  friendly  intercourse  and  free  con- 
versation to  each  other.  These  meetings  shall  commence 
with  appropriate  prayer  and  exhortations.  If  all  this  shall 
be  done  by  the  ministers  with  that  cordiality,  faithfulness, 
zeal  and  discretion  that  become  those  who  must  give  an 
account  of  the  flock  committed  to  their  charge,  it  is  not  to 
be  doubted  that  in  a  short  time  abundant  fruit  of  their  labors 
shall  be  found  in  growth  in  religious  knowledge  and  holiness 
of  life,  to  the  glory  of  God  and  the  prosperity  to  the  church 
of  Christ."  Could  anything  be  more  admirable  ?  Have 
we,  by  our  modern  methods  of  gathering  people  into  the 
church,  improved  on  that  singularly  complete,  safe  and  effi- 
cient system  ?  Like  every  other  system  it  was  liable  to  abuse 
by  careless  and  unfaithful  ministers,  but  by  means  of  it  defi- 


I20 


nite  knowledge  of  fundamental  truths  at  least  was  secured, 
and  of  it  the  learner  could  not  be  dispossessed. 

IV.    REVERENCE    FOR    THE    EXTERNALS    OF    WORSHIP. 

The  habits  of  the  people  in  regard  to  public  worship  have  a 
great  forming  influence  on  a  new  community,  as  well  as  a  con- 
serving influence  on  one  established.  In  all  new  settlements 
in  the  West  this  is  well  understood  by  the  most  godless  people. 
It  was  a  happy  thing  for  Albany  that  provision  was  at  once 
made  by  its  founders  for  the  public  worship  of  God.  We 
do  not  claim  that  they  all  were  devotedly  pious  people. 
They  came  hither  for  gain,  not  for  conscience's  sake,  and  a 
living  faith  was  doubtless  wanting  in  some  of  them.  But 
they  were  of  one  mind  in  reverence  for  the  externals  of 
religion.  When  the  Sabbath  came  worldly  work  ceased,  and 
while  they  were  not  so  precise  in  their  observance  of  the 
day  of  rest  as  were  the  Puritans,  who-  professed  to  be  scan- 
dalized by  some  things  they  witnessed  in  Holland,  yet  they 
insisted  on  the  observance  of  public  worship.  It  might  be 
held  in  a  private  house  or  barn,  and  without  a  minister,  but 
it  must  be  held,  and  all  the  men,  women  and  children  must 
attend  it ;  and  often  they  walked  miles  to  attend  it,  for  it  was 
the  ordinance  of  God.  Thus  every  child  grew  up  into  this 
invaluable  habit  of  attendance  on  the  ordinances  of  God's 
house.  And  if  there  was  no  preacher,  yet  the  attendant 
was  sure  to  hear  God's  word  read,  and  his  praises  sung,  and 
prayers  to  him  offered,  and  to  hear  the  three  things  which 
are  prominent  not  only  in  the  catechism,  but  in  all  the 
liturgies  of  the  reformation,  viz. :  the  ten  commandments, 
the  Lord's  prayer,  and  the  apostolic  creed.  The  services 
were  simple,  decent  and  appropriate,  containing  considerable 
of  the  Uturgical  element,  yet  not  so  as  to  interfere  seriously 
with  the  liberty  of  the  minister  in  presenting  the  wants  of  the 
people  before  God.  Respect  for  the  externals  of  religion, 
for  the  church,  her  laws,  ordinances,  ceremonies,  and  even 
customs  is  by  many  not  duly  appreciated  at  the  present 
day.  It  is  true  that  we  may  respect  them  for  their  own 
sake,  may  confound  the  observance  of  them  with  true  religion 
and  measure  our  piety  by  the  number  and  imposing  charac- 
ter of  the  ceremonies  observed.  But  may  we  not,  on  the 
other  hand,  abuse  the  truth  that  spirituality  is  of  the  essence 
of  religion,  by  entirely  setting  aside  the  externals  of  worship 
as  useless  or  even  harmful  ?     And  so  men  claim   that  they 

121 


can  worship  God  without  attending  church,  for  nothing  is 
needed  but  that  the  heart  be  right.  Now  know  this,  that 
when  the  outward  and  visible  which  has  been  estabhshed  by 
God  is  despised  and  neglected,  the  inward  and  spiritual  will 
soon  disappear.  The  Holy  Spirit  chooses  the  divinely-ap- 
pointed ordinances  as  his  channels  for  communicating  his 
blessed  influences.  The  man  who  disregards  them  does  it 
at  his  peril,  for  he  dictates  to  the  Holy  Ghost  the  methods 
of  his  working.  How  this  habit  of  the  early  Albanians, 
formed  also  in  their  children,  nmst  have  told  upon  the  gen- 
erations that  followed  them.  Doubtless  many  of  you  can 
see  the  traces  of  it  at  the  present  day.  And  I  am  very  sure 
that  no  greater  blessing  could  come  to  your  city  now  than 
a  baptism  of  the  Spirit  of  God  which  should  lead  every  one 
to  determine  that  never  shall  his  seat  in  the  house  of  God  be 
vacant,  except  when  God  himself  has  by  his  providence  shut 
him  out,  and  when  the  sad  sight  shall  be  no  more  witnessed 
of  fathers  and  mothers  occupying  the  family  pew,  while  sons 
and  daughters  are  seeking  their  pleasure. 

v.    THE    FORM    OF    GOVERNMENT. 

In  this  we  find  the  two  elements  of  ministerial  parity  and 
popular  representation.  Elders  and  deacons  were  elected 
as  representatives  of  the  people,  to  serve  for  the  limited  pe- 
riod of  two  years.  The  Dutch  people  had  come  from  a 
country  of  large  freedom  in  the  municipalities,  and  they 
were  jealous  of  their  rights.  Their  situation  here  was  pecu- 
liar. For  the  promotion  of  the  settlements  of  the  country, 
large  grants  of  lands  were  given  to  certain  persons,  who 
were  then  called  patroons,  and  were  clothed  with  certain 
rights  and  powers  like  feudal  chieftains.  With  these  rights 
and  powers  were  connected  corresponding  duties  and  obli- 
gations. Among  other  things  they  were  to  provide  minis- 
ters and  schoolmasters.  And  accordingly  the  first  minister 
in  this  place  was  engaged  by  the  patroon  Van  Rensselaer. 
This  quasi-feudal  system  had  its  advantages  and  disadvan- 
tages, and  its  practical  workings  were  greatly  affected  by  the 
character  of  the  patroon,  who,  if  wise,  just  and  humane,  was 
as  a  father  to  his  tenants.  But  the  system  did,  doubtless,  at 
the  first  operate  against  a  rapid  increase  of  the  population. 
In  1652  Beverwyck  was  declared  to  be  independent  of  the 
patroon's  colony,  and  the  germ  of  the  present  city  of  Al- 
bany was  released  from  feudal  jurisdiction.     Now,  while  the 

122 


church  was  by  her  teaching  and  discipline  promotive  of 
order  and  content  among  the  people,  at  the  same  time  she  by 
her  form  of  government  kept  ahve  in  their  breasts  the  love  of 
individual  liberty,  to  be  restricted  only  by  the  general  good. 
After  the  province  had  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  English 
it  was  impossible  but  that  jealousies  should  arise.  The  power 
had  passed  into  the  hands  of  aliens,  men  of  another  country, 
another  language,  another  form  of  religion.  The  governors 
were  representatives  of  the  English  crown,  they  had  English 
ideas,  and  favored  English  institutions.  The  will  of  the 
people  was  not  always  respected  to  the  fullest  extent,  and 
even  good  measures  were  likely  to  be  misrepresented  or  mis- 
understood. In  time  policies  were  adopted,  which  not  only 
the  Dutch  people,  but  those  of  all  nationalities  and  in  all  the 
colonies,  regarded  as  intolerably  oppressive,  and  thus  the 
way  was  gradually  prepared  for  the  assertion  of  independ- 
ence. Is  it  not  fair  to  claim  for  the  Dutch  church  some  in- 
fluence in  this  matter  ?  Had  not  her  polity  stood  forth  for 
nearly  a  century  and  a  half  as  the  representative  of  the  rights 
of  man  ?  We  are  not  surprised  to  find  that  her  ministers 
and  people  were  almost  to  a  man  true  to  the  cause  of  na- 
tional independence.  In  our  representative  republican  form 
of  government  we  find  the  principles  of  our  church  polity 
which  we  believe  to  be  not  only  scriptural  but  in  accord  with 
sound  views  of  popular  rights. 


VI.     HER    GENIUS    OR    SPIRIT. 

This  was  eminently  tolerant,  beneficent,  missionary  and 
Catholic.  Holland  was  the  asylum  of  the  persecuted, 
whether  Christians  or  Jews,  from  all  the  nations  of  Europe. 
The  Dutch  could  not  in  this  country  be  recreant  to  their 
principles.  It  is  true  that  Governor  Stuyvesant  did  once 
blunder  into  a  proclamation  against  all  who  ''  should  hold 
conventicles  not  in  harmony  with  the  estabHshed  religion." 
It  was  also  attempted  "  to  employ  all  moderate  exertions  to 
lure  them  (Lutherans)  to  our  churches  and  to  matriculate 
them  in  the  public  reformed  religion."  Zeal  in  this  matter 
led  to  measures  which  we  would  hardly  call  moderate,  such 
as  compelling  parents  to  have  their  children  baptized  in  the 
Dutch  church,  and  to  express  their  belief  in  the  doctrines  of 
the  synod  of  Dort  on  pain  of  imprisonment.  But  Stuyve- 
sant was  promptly  rebuked  by  the  West  India  company. 

123 


They  directed  him  "  to  allow  to  all  the  free  exercise  of  reli- 
gion in  their  own  houses,"  and  declared  "  that  at  least  the 
consciences  of  men  ought  to  remain  free  and  unshackled. 
Let  every  one  remain  free  as  long  as  he  is  modest,  moder- 
ate, his  political  conduct  irreproachable,  and  as  long  as  he 
does  not  offend  others  or  oppose  the  government.  This 
maxim  of  moderation  has  always  been  the  guide  of  our  ma- 
gistrates in  this  city  (Amsterdam),  and  the  consequence  has 
been  that  people  have  flocked  from  every  land  to  this  asy- 
lum. Tread  thus  in  their  steps,  and  we  doubt  not  you  will 
be  blessed."  For  Stuyvesant's  proclamation  the  church  was 
not  responsible.  After  the  English  had  come  into  power  the 
Dutch  and  Episcopal  clergymen  freely  and  cordially  frater- 
nized. The  two  Dutch  ministers,  Selyna  and  Nucella,  as- 
sisted in  the  services  at  the  induction  into  office  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Vesey  as  first  rector  of  Trinity  church,  New  York,  and  the 
services  were  held  in  the  Dutch  church  in  Garden  street. 
During  the  revolutionary  war,  when  the  Dutch  church  was 
used  as  a  hospital  by  the  British,  the  Episcopalians  offered 
the  use  of  St.  George's  church  to  the  Dutch  congregation, 
and  the  offer  was  accepted.  (Brodhead's  History,  vol.  i, 
p.  iig.)  Their  respective  fields  were  for  a  long  time  so  well 
fenced  in  by  the  difference  of  language  that  the  idea  of 
competition  could  scarcely  be  entertained.  It  was  benevo- 
lent. Almsgiving  was  always  a  part  of  the  worship  on  the 
Lord's  day,  as  it  still  is.  The  deacon's  office  was  a  very  im- 
portant one  in  Holland.  There  was  a  time  when  the  con- 
tributions of  the  church  of  Amsterdam  to  the  deacon's  fund 
exceeded  its  income  for  all  other  purposes,  and  most  liber- 
ally did  the  deacons  distribute  not  only  to  their  own  people, 
but  to  the  thousands  of  strangers  who  came  to  them  stripped 
of  their  all  for  the  sake  of  the  gospel.  I  have  been  greatly 
interested  in  reading  the  reports  of  the  deacons  of  this  church 
of  Albany  from  1665  to  17 15.  From  the  very  hberal  col- 
lections that  were  taken  up  in  the  church  the  deacons  paid 
for  the  support  of  widows  and  orphans,  for  food  and  cloth- 
ing, for  medicine,  for  funeral  expenses  and  for  wages,  and  in 
other  modes  of  relief  very  large  sums  annually,  and  then 
they  had  surplus  moneys  which  they  loaned  at  interest  or  in- 
vested in  real  estate.  The  assets  reported  by  the  deacons  in 
1686  amounted  to  12,687  guilders,  or  somewhat  more  than 
$5,000.  The  church  was  the  only  organized  almoner,  and 
well  did  she   fulfill  that  part  of  her  vocation.     She  had  a 

124 


missionary  spirit.  She,  from  the  first,  cared  for  the  heathen 
around  her.  It  was  expressly  required  of  Megapolensis  and 
his  immediate  successors  by  their  calls  that  they  should  in- 
struct and  christianize  the  Indians,  and  with  great  zeal  and 
faithfulness  did  they  labor  in  their  behalf,  and  on  the  regis- 
ter of  baptisms  of  this  church  are  to  be  found  the  names  of 
many  Indian  converts.  I  wonder  that  some  artist  has  not 
selected  for  an  historical  painting  Dom.  Megapolensis 
preaching  to  his  little  congregation  at  Fort  Orange,  with  the 
dusky  Mohawks  standing  around  smoking  their  long  pipes, 
looking  on  with  wonder  and  asking  what  he  was  doing  and 
why  he  alone  talked  and  all  the  others  kept  silence.  Need 
we  be  surprised  to  learn  that  the  ministers  and  members  of 
the  church  of  Albany  were  among  the  chief  supporters  of 
the  Northern  missionary  society  which  did  so  much  for  the 
christianization  and  civilization  of  the  Indians  in  Central  and 
Western  New  York  from  1797  to  1833?  Surely  the  influ- 
ence of  a  church  with  a  liberal,  catholic  and  missionary  spirit 
in  a  forming  as  well  as  established  community  cannot  be 
exhibited  by  statistics. 

I  have  thus  endeavored  to  set  before  you  some  of  the  char- 
acteristics of  the  Reformed  church  of  the  Netherlands,  which 
eminently  qualify  her  to  exert  a  most  healthful  influence 
upon  a  young  and  growing  community.  You  have  seen 
from  what  school  the  colonists  came,  and  what  system  of 
truth,  what  educational  system,  what  respect  for  Christian 
ordinances,  what  a  model  of  church  government,  and  what 
a  catholic  spirit  they  brought  with  them.  It  could  not  be 
otherwise  than  that  every  good  thing  should  receive  the  fos- 
tering care  of  this  church,  and  that  she  should  be  a  clear, 
steadily-shining  light  for  the  guidance  of  the  generations  to 
come.  And  has  not  her  influence  been  eminently  salutary, 
especially  in  the  direction  of  a  healthful  conservatism  ?  And 
is  it  not  quite  as  important  to  hold  fast  to  the  good  already 
professed  as  it  is  to  reach  after  that  which  has  not  yet  been 
attained  ?  Indeed,  progress  depends  on  a  resolute  mainte- 
nance of  good  possessed,  while  its  abandonment  is  retro- 
gression. Now  it  is  fair  to  ask  whether  this  influence  so 
early  exerted  by  this  church  has  not  been  permanent,  and 
whether  it  may  not  be  traced  down  to  the  present  day. 
There  are  many  of  you  who  are  more  competent  than  I  to 
answer  this  question. 


125 


VII.    HINDRANCES    TO    GROWTH. 

You  need  not  be  told  that  the  Reformed  Dutch  church 
has  not  multipHed  her  congregations  in  Albany  proportion- 
ately with  the  increase  of  population.  If  she  had  done  so 
nine  tenths  of  the  people  would  now  be  in  her  communion. 
But  how  unjust  to  charge  her  with  remissness  because  she 
has  not  in  numbers  continued  to  lead  all  the  denominations. 
You  will  consider  that  she  was  a  foreign  national  church 
planted  on  American  soil,  that  when  Albany  was  a  small 
village  the  province  passed  under  the  dominion  of  the  Eng- 
lish; that  emigration  from  the  fatherland  was  seriously 
checked ;  that  the  church  could  look  for  increase  only  to 
the  natural  increase  of  the  Dutch  people ;  that  the  Episco- 
pal church  gained  an  advantage  which  the  Dutch  lost,  as 
the  church  of  government  officials ;  that  in  due  time  it  could 
not  be  otherwise  than  that  all  the  principal  sects  of  Chris- 
tians should  here  raise  their  banners,  Lutherans,  Presbyte- 
rians, Methodists,  Baptists,  Congregation aHsts,  Roman  Cath- 
olics. They  were  entitled  to  have  their  own  churches  and  to 
worship  according  to  their  preferences  based  on  peculiar 
views  of  doctrine,  of  government  or  ritual.  And  so  these 
churches  sprang  up  around  the  old  Dutch  altar,  on  which, 
nevertheless,  the  fire  has  continued  to  burn  and  has  been 
kept  brightly  burning  through  the  loyal  zeal  of  the  descend- 
ants of  the  parishioners  of  Megapolensis,  Schaets,  Dellius, 
Lydius  and  Westerlo.  May  it  not  be  that  unconsciously  the 
later  churches  have  received  something  of  conservative  in- 
fluence from  this  ancient  church,  while  she  in  turn  has  re- 
ceived something  of  an  aggressive  spirit  from  these  new 
allies  in  the  fight  with  the  powers  of  darkness,  so  that  in  the 
unity  of  the  spirit,  though  under  separate  organizations  they 
are  all  striving  together  for  the  faith  of  the  gospel.  But  it 
will  be  said  that  while  this  is  true,  and  while  it  is  also  true 
that  many  who  were  born  and  baptized  in  other  communions 
have  fixed  their  homes  in  this  venerable  church,  because 
they  loved  her  doctrines,  order  and  spirit,  yet  many  of  her 
own  children  she  has  failed  to  retain.  No  doubt  this  is  so, 
for  the  same  reasons  that  often  lead  individuals  of  all  other 
communions  to  change  church  relationships  operate  among 
the  members  of  the  Dutch  communion.  If  a  man  changes 
his  views  of  doctrine  or  government,  or  has  a  serious  griev- 
ance, or  seeks  for  more  congenial  associations,  or  better 
provision  for  his  spiritual  needs,  we  grant  him  the  liberty  to 

126 


act  accordingly.  Why  should  one  be  compelled  to  remain 
in  some  one  church  who  prefers  to  be  elsewhere?  But  the 
Reformed  Dutch  church  was  peculiarly  situated.  There 
were  causes  for  loss  of  children  and  arrest  of  progress  from 
which  the  surrounding  churches  were  exempt,  and  which 
were  operative  down  to  almost  the  close  of  the  last  century. 
When  we  contemplate  them  we  wonder  at  the  good  provi- 
dence which  saved  this  church  from  utter  extinction.  Not 
only  was  she  in  common  with  other  denominations  affected 
by  the  predominant,  political  influence  of  the  English  church, 
and  her  plausible  claim  to  be  the  church  by  law  established 
in  the  English  colonies,  but  she  suffered  from  subjection  to 
the  ecclesiastical  authorities  in  Holland,  which  continued 
150  years,  from  the  difficulty  during  that  long  period  of  ob- 
taining pastors,  from  the  bitter  controversy  between  the 
Coetus  and  Conferentie  parties  about  ministerial  education 
and  ecclesiastical  independence.  All  these  exerted  a  most 
disastrous  influence  and  drove  many  lovers  of  peace  into 
other  communions.  Besides  these  there  was  one  hindrance, 
which,  if  there  had  been  no  other,  would  have  proved  most 
effective.  I  refer  to  the  continued,  exclusive  use  of  the 
Dutch  language  in  public  worship  down  to  the  year  1782, 
when  the  learned  and  godly  Dr.  Westerlo  began  to  preach 
one  sermon  weekly  in  English.  It  is  difficult  to  believe  that 
the  beginning  of  English  preaching  was  made  in  the  Re- 
formed Dutch  church  of  Albany  only  about  a  hundred  years 
ago,  and  after  the  Dutch  had  had  undisputed  sway  for  140 
years.  Now,  how  was  it  possible  to  retain  in  this  church  the 
constantly-increasing  numbers  of  those  who  had  only  a  slight 
understanding  of  the  language  used  in  worship,  or  none  at 
all  ?  The  children  of  Dutch  parents  were  taught  English  in 
the  schools  and  largely  in  their  homes.  English  was  the 
language  of  business,  of  the  laws  and  of  the  courts.  The 
Dutch  was  rapidly  dying  out,  especially  in  the  cities,  but  in 
the  church  services  the  dear  old  tongue  was  maintained,  for 
the  ministers  were  at  home  in  it,  and  the  old  people  loved 
it  and  reverenced  it  as  if  it  were  the  original  inspired  tongue. 
But  to  the  young,  even  those  who  could  speak  the  collo- 
quial Dutch,  it  was  virtually  an  unknown  tongue,  by  reason 
of  the  limitations  of  their  vocabulary.  And  so  it  happened 
that  the  young  were  gradually  drawn  into  other  churches 
and  were  lost  to  the  church  of  their  fathers  forever.  1  have 
been  greatly  interested  in  a  letter  written  in   1 7 1  o  by  Rev. 


127 


Thomas  Barclay,  a  missionary  of  the  church  of  England, 
sent  to  this  place  by  the  society  for  the  propagation  of  the 
gospel  in  foreign  parts.  In  writing  to  the  secretary  of  that 
society  he  says :  "  Honored  Sir :  As  I  did  begin  from  my 
first  coming  to  Albany,  so  I  go  on  to  catechise  the  youth  ; 
and  it  hath  pleased  God  to  bless  my  weak  endeavors  that 
way,  for  a  great  many  Dutch  children  who,  at  my  first  ar- 
rival, were  altogether  ignorant  of  the  English  tongue,  can 
distinctly  say  our  catechism  and  make  the  responses  at  pray- 
ers. Every  Sunday,  after  the  second  lesson  at  evening 
prayer,  I  explain  some  part  of  the  catechism  in  as  plain  and 
familiar  a  manner  as  I  can,  shunning  all  controversies,  teach- 
ing them  such  fundamental  doctrines  as  are  necessary  and 
tend  most  to  promote  piety  and  a  good  life.  I  have  taught 
the  scholars  the  prayers  appointed  for  charity  schools,  and  I 
have  used  all  possible  methods  to  engage  the  children  to 
their  duty,  both  by  the  giving  of  small  presents  to  the  most 
forward  and  diligent,  and  by  frequently  visiting  their  schools; 
and  for  encouraging  the  schoolmasters,  I  give  them  what 
charity  is  collected  in  our  church,  obliging  them  to  bring 
their  scholars  to  public  prayers.  At  Schenectady  I  preach 
once  a  month,  where  there  is  a  garrison  of  40  soldiers,  be- 
sides about  16  English  and  100  Dutch  families.  They  are 
all  of  them  my  constant  hearers.  I  have  this  summer  got 
an  English  school  erected  amongst  them,  and  in  a  short 
time  I  hope  their  children  will  be  fit  for  catechizing.  Sche- 
nectady is  a  village  situated  upon  a  pleasant  river  20  English 
miles  above  Albany,  and  the  first  castle  of  the  Indians  is  24 
miles  above  Schenectady.  In  this  village  there  has  been  no 
Dutch  minister  these  five  years,  and  there  is  no  probability 
of  any  being  settled  among  them.  There  is  a  convenient 
and  well-built  church  which  they  freely  gave  me  the  use  of. 
I  have  taken  pains  to  show  the  agreement  of  the  articles  of 
our  church  with  theirs.  I  hope  in  some  time  to  bring  them 
not  only  to  be  constant  hearers  but  communicants.  Mr. 
Lydius,  the  minister  of  the  Dutch  congregation  of  Albany, 
died  the  ist  day  of  March  last.  He  was  a  good,  pious  man 
and  lived  in  entire  friendship  with  me ;  sent  his  own  chil- 
dren to  be  catechized."  (Annals  of  Albany,  vol.  5,  p.  218.) 
If  the  successors  of  Mr.  Barclay  down  to  the  close  of  the 
last  century  worked  on  the  same  lines  with  him,  and  with 
like  tact  and  fidelity,  it  would  not  have  been  strange  if  a 
mere  corporal's  guard  had  remained  in  attendance  on   Dr. 

128 


Westerlo's  ministry  in  1782.  We  blame  not  Mr.  Barclay. 
He  seems  to  have  been  an  orthodox  and  zealous  minister, 
seeking  to  supply  the  things  that  were  lacking,  and  not 
working  in  an  underhanded  way,  but  with  the  consent  of 
the  Dutch  minister  and  people.  But  surely  his  methods 
were  not  calculated  to  build  up  the  Reformed  Dutch  church. 
We  now  find,  as  the  result  of  various  causes  working  through 
the  generations,  the  names  of  old  Dutch  pioneers  on  the 
roll  of  the  bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  (even 
the  name  Knickerbocker  is  there)  and  of  priests,  deacons 
and  vestrymen.  We  find  ministers,  church  officers  and 
members  of  all  denominations  bearing  Dutch  names.  Every- 
where, in  all  churches,  you  will  find  the  descendants  of 
Dutchmen,  and  I  am  sure  that  unless  they  have  utterly  for- 
gotten their  good  training  they  are  among  the  most  loyal 
and  valuable  in  their  new  relations.  Now,  in  the  light  of 
the  facts  that  have  been  presented,  is  it  fair  to  reproach  this 
venerable  church,  which  was  the  first  one  on  the  ground  in 
New  York  and  Albany,  for  being  to-day  in  numbers  far  be- 
hind the  chief  denominations  of  Christians  around  her  ?  As 
well  might  you  reproach  the  racer  for  coming  in  last,  who 
though  he  started  first,  ran  with  a  hundred  pound  weight  tied 
to  his  feet.  The  Reformed  Dutch  church  may  well  be  com- 
pared to  a  ship  crowded  with  passengers  lying  at  anchor  for 
100  years  at  the  mouth  of  a  river.  Meanwhile  vessels  of  all 
sorts  pass  by,  each  one  taking  on  board  some  of  her  passen- 
gers, and  sail  out  of  sight  up  the  river.  After  100 
years  of  this  process  it  is  concluded  to  weigh  anchor  and 
sail  for  the  head  of  navigation.  Would  you  expect 
her  to  catch  up  with,  or  even  get  within  sight  of  the  fleet 
ahead  ?  For  more  than  100  years  the  anchor  of  the  Dutch 
tongue  held  the  old  ship  fast  to  her  moorings.  Those  who 
had  command  of  her  seemed  to  be  well  pleased  with  this 
state  of  quiescence,  until  they  woke  up  to  the  fact  that  if  a 
start  were  not  made  they  were  likely  to  be  left  alone  on 
board.  And  yet,  paradoxical  as  it  may  be  thought,  the  very 
cause  that,  in  cities  at  least,  hindered  the  progress  of  the 
church,  probably  saved  her  life.  The  Dutch  tongue 
was  the  strong  cord  holding  together  the  churches  all  through 
the  times  of  disability  and  contention.  This  language  was 
a  high  wall  of  separation  from  the  other  denominations 
which  could  not  be  easily  scaled.  If  it  had  been  removed 
perhaps  not  even  strong  feelings  of  loyalty  to  the  fatherland 


129 


would  have  prevented  a  general  exodus  and  a  flight  to  the 
Episcopal  and  Presbyterian  churches. 

VIII.    LESSONS    OF    THE    HOUR. 

And  now  what  are  the  lessons  and  duties  of  the  hour? 
Not  to  brood  with  vain  regrets  over  the  mistakes  of  the  past, 
but  to  rejoice  that  God  makes  even  them  to  subserve  his 
glory  and  to  be  thankful  for  whatever  influence  for  good  this 
church  has  exerted  in  this  city,  State  and  country.  She  has 
certainly  been  for  eight  generations  a  steady  witness  for 
Christ.  The  truths  of  the  everlasting  gospel  have  been  pro- 
claimed from  her  pulpits  by  able  and  godly  men  through  all 
these  generations.  In  her  consistories  and  membership  have 
been  found  men  who  exerted  no  Httle  influence  in  the  State 
as  well  as  the  church ;  who  adorned  the  various  professions, 
who  bore  an  important  part  in  shaping  the  constitution  of 
the  State  as  well  as  in  regulating  municipal  affairs,  and  whose 
zeal  for  the  church  universal  did  not  hinder  a  special  devo- 
tion to  the  institutions  of  their  own  denomination.  When 
in  the  middle  of  the  last  century  the  hopes  of  the  great  ma- 
jority of  the  members  of  the  Dutch  churches,  and  especially 
of  the  men  of  earnest  and  progressive  spirit,  were  disap- 
pointed in  the  matter  of  a  professorship  of  theology  in  con- 
nection with  Kings  (Columbia)  college,  it  was  Rev.  Theo- 
dorus  Frelinghuysen,  the  active  and  faithful  pastor  of  the 
church  of  Albany,  who  started  from  his  home  in  midwinter 
and  visited  the  pastors  and  churches  along  the  Hudson,  and 
in  New  Jersey,  to  stimulate  interest  and  effort  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  college  for  the  training  of  ministers  for  the 
Dutch  churches.  In  behalf  of  this  object  he  subsequently 
went  to  Holland,  and  after  an  unsuccessful  mission,  was  on 
the  return  voyage  drowned  at  Sandy  Hook.  When  the  time 
had  come  in  1814  for  the  appointment  of  an  additional  pro- 
fessor in  the  theological  school  at  New  Brunswick,  the 
church  of  Albany  pledged  for  his  support  $750  per  year  for 
six  years.  When,  in  1823,  the  particular  synod  of  Albany, 
stimulated  by  the  example  of  the  particular  synod  of  New 
York  (which  had  just  raised  $26,675  ^^^  ^^^  second  profes- 
sorship), resolved  to  raise  the  moneys  for  a  third  professor- 
ship, the  committee  which  with  indefatigable  perseverance 
carried  the  work  to  a  successful  completion,  by  raising  $26,- 
715,  was  composed  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Ludlow,  pastor  of 
the  church  of  Albany,  and  Elders  Christian   Miller  of  Al- 

130 


bany,  and  Abraham  Van  Dyck  of  Coxsackie.  Nearly  $8,000 
of  this  amount  were  contributed  by  members  of  the  church 
of  Albany.  In  the  Rensselaer  Manor  house,  known  for 
many  years  through  the  whole  country  for  its  large  and  ele- 
gant hospitality,  and  in  which  no  guests  received  a  heartier 
welcome  than  ministers  of  the  gospel,  not  only  were  high 
matters  of  state  discussed,  but  liberal  things  for  religion,  and 
especially  for  the  institutions  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  church, 
were  devised.  When  in  1835  ^^^  effort  was  made  for  the 
increase  of  the  endowment  of  the  theological  school  at  New 
Brunswick,  the  Hon.  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  whose  mem- 
ory will  never  cease  to  be  fragrant  in  Albany,  headed  the  list 
of  subscriptions  with  one  of  $5,000.  When  in  1864  the  fourth 
professorship  was  established,  his  son.  Gen.  Stephen  Van 
Rensselaer,  subscribed  $5,000 ;  and  when  in  1870-2  the 
Rev.  Dr.  James  A.  H.  Cornell  was  working  for  the  various 
interests  of  the  theological  seminary  Mr.  Eugene  Van  Rens- 
selaer contributed  $5,000.  From  Mr.  Jacob  H.  Ten  Eyck 
was  received  by  will  the  sum  of  $10,000.  As  a  representa- 
tive of  that  theological  school,  I  could  not  let  this  occasion 
pass  without  an  acknowledgment  of  indebtedness  to  the 
church  of  Albany,  and  to  all  in  her  communion  who,  as 
well  as  those  whose  names  have  been  mentioned,  have  never 
failed  to  give  us  sympathy  and  support.  And  besides,  Al- 
bany has  furnished  the  school  with  three  professors,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  John  Bassett,  appointed  in  1804;  the  Rev.  Dr.  John 
DeWitt,  in  1823,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  H.  Campbell, 
in  1851,  while  Rutgers'  college  is  indebted  to  Albany  for 
Professors  John  DeWitt,  Lewis  C.  Beck,  William  H.  Camp- 
bell, George  H.  Cook,  David  Murray  and  Merrill  Edwards 
Gates,  the  present  efficient  and  successful  president  of  the 
college.  To  these  may  be  added  a  succession  of  students 
who  are  an  honor  to  their  alma  mater.  To-day  this  church 
is  girded  for  her  work.  She  is  to  forget  the  things  that  are 
behind  and  to  reach  forth  to  those  things  that  are  before. 
As  the  citizens  of  Albany  enter  on  their  third  century  of 
corporate  civic  life  this  church  is  with  them,  pledged  to  con- 
tinue to  proclaim  and  teach  the  pure  doctrines  of  the  Word 
of  God,  to  encourage  every  eftbrt  for  the  promotion  of  wise 
government,  good  order,  sound  morals  and  true  prosperity. 
She  stands  ordained  of  God,  to  help  in  the  training  of  the 
people  for  self-government,  and  for  the  enjoyment  of  true 
liberty,  and  for  the  promotion  here  and  everywhere   of  the 


131 


kingdom  which  is  righteousness,  peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost. 

Venerable  church,  antedating  this  ancient  city's  birth,  thy 
children  rise  up  before  thee  and  call  thee  blessed.  From 
this  day  with  renewed  youth  do  valiantly  for  our  Lord 
Christ. 

"  Peace  be  within  thy  walls 

And  prosperity  within  thy  palaces, 

For  my  brethren  and  companions'  sakes, 

I  will  now  say,  peace  be  within  thee." 


UNION    SERVICES    AT    ST.    PETER'S. 

St.  Peter's  church  never  contained  a  larger  or  more 
notable  audience  than  on  the  occasion  of  the  union 
service  of  the  Episcopal  churches.  The  church  was 
crowded  to  the  doors  before  eight  o'clock,  and 
after  that  hour  there  was  a  constant  stream  of 
persons  up  and  down  the  steps,  almost  every  one 
having  to  content  himself  with  a  glance  over  the 
heads  of  the  throng  in  the  vestibule.  There  was  little 
attempt  at  decoration,  save  a  profuse  display  of  cut 
flowers  before  the  chancel  and  altar.  The  music  was 
given  with  grand  effect,  there  being  the  combined 
choirs  of  All  Saints'  cathedral,  Grace  church  and  St. 
Peter's  church,  under  the  direction  of  F.  W.  Mills, 
organist  and  choir  master  of  St.  Peter's. 

The  hymn,  "Ancient  of  Days,"  words  by  Bishop 
Doane  and  music  by  Mr.  J.  Albert  Jeffery,  is  one  of 
those  grand  massive  chants  which,  when  sung  by 
such  a  superb  chorus,  one  hundred  and  thirty  strong, 
has  an  electric  effect.  The  harmonies  are  full  and 
sonorous,  and  there  is  about  the  entire  work  the 
spirit  of  an  accomplished  musician.  It  was  preceded 
by  some  exquisite  organ  solos  by  Mr.  Jeffery,  a  cho- 

132 


rus  from  Handel's  "  Samson,"  the  march  from  "  La 
Reine  de  Saba,"  and  a  prayer  by  Lemmens,  the  cele- 
brated English  organist.  The  sermon,  which  was  by 
Bishop  Doane,  follows : 

BISHOP    DOANE's    sermon. 
"A  citizen  of  no  mean  city." — Acts  xxi :  39. 

This  is  eminently  a  season  and  a  service  of  remembrance. 
The  present  seems  to-day  not  so  much  a  contemplation  as 
a  contrast.  The  future  stretches  out  before  us  in  the  majesty 
of  the  mysterious  unknown.  We  are  living  in  the  reminders 
of  the  past.  Not  unmindful  of  the  Christian  exhortation  to 
"  forget  the  things  that  are  behind  in  order  that  we  may 
reacli  forth  unto  those  things  which  are  before,"  we  pause  a 
moment  in  this  anniversary  week  of  our  "  not  mean  city,"  to 
look  "  unto  the  rock  whence  we  are  hewn,  and  to  the  hole 
of  the  pit  whence  we  are  digged."  For  if  rightly  used,  such 
a  monument  as  we  set  up  here  to-day,  will  serve  only  as  a 
stimulus  to  wholesome  humility  and  more  earnest  energy. 

I  take  it  that  one  chief  purpose  of  such  a  service  as  the 
municipal  authorities  of  Albany  propose  to  us,  and  of  such 
a  sermon  as  I  am  asked  to  preach  by  the  rectors  of  our  five 
parishes,  is  to  make  a  record  of  the  first  centuries  of  our 
church  life,  and  to  trace  the  story  of  our  life  and  growth  as 
part  of  the  religious  history  of  this  old  town.  And  I  address 
myself  first  to  gather  up  for  preservation  in  the  Bi-centennial 
volume  the  salient  points  of  that  story.  There  is  high  au- 
thority for  this  treatment  of  such  a  subject,  since  the  inspired 
history  of  the  Catholic  Church  takes  to  itself  the  name  of 
"  the  Acts  of  the  Holy  Apostles." 

Others  will  tell  to-day  the  tale  of  those  religious  begin- 
nings, which  were  not  after  our  ways  of  order  and  worship. 
And  a  most  interesting  story  it  can  be.  Naturally,  in  a  way, 
we  were  not  first,  because  the  first  comers  were  really  the 
French  in  1624.  Coming  from  France  to  Holland,  to 
escape  the  inquisition,  and  with  that  queer  Saxon  name 
"  Walloons,"  which  means  foreigners,  these  French  Protest- 
ants stepped  in  the  footprints  of  their  fellow-countrymen, 
whose  exploration  of  the  Hudson  river  antedates  Hudson's 
coming  by  more  than  eighty  years.  Next  to  them  came  the 
Hollanders,  who  sought  and  obtained  at  once,  from  home 

133 


the  ministrations  of  their  own  church  in  1628.  The  story 
that  follows,  of  actual  intolerance,  is  the  story  of  almost  all 
religious  occupation,  whether  of  Puritan  against  Quaker  or 
Baptist  in  New  England,  or  of  Dutchmen  against  Lutherans 
and  German  Protestants  and  Anglicans  in  New  York.  It 
was  not  until  1684,  and  then  by  permission  of  an  English 
governor,  that  the  Lutherans  were  allowed  to  hold  service 
here,  although  a  French  Calvanist  clergyman,  in  1628,  min- 
istered to  the  Walloons.  The  Dutch  Church,  according  to 
their  charter  from  the  West  India  company,  was  really  es- 
tablished here,  and  the  first  services  were  held  in  the  fort  in 
1633,  and  continued  after  that  by  a  succession  of  Dutch 
ministers.  It  is  more  to  the  credit  of  Englishmen  here,  that 
they  first  allowed  and  recognized  religious  differences  by 
toleration  of  freedom  of  worship,  than  that  they  remained 
indifferent  to  any  provision  for  their  own  services  for  so 
many  years.  It  was  more  accident  than  choice  which  gave 
the  first  English  clergyman  to  Albany.  Nicolas  Van  Rens- 
selaer, the  third  son  of  the  first  Patroon,  came  over  from 
Amsterdam  to  London  as  chaplain  to  the  ambassador  of  the 
States  General  in  Holland.  Having  earned  the  favor  of  the 
Stuarts  while  they  were  in  exile  on  the  continent,  he  was 
welcomed  by  Charles  II.,  and  treated  by  him  and  by  the 
Duke  of  York  and  Albany  with  distinguished  favor.  Having 
been  ordained  Deacon  and  Priest  by  the  Bishop  of  Salisbury, 
he  was  sent  out,  perhaps  as  chaplain  to  the  governor  of  New 
York,  with  directions  to  appoint  him  a  minister  when  a 
vacancy  should  occur  in  one  of  the  Dutch  churches.  And  in 
this  way  he  became  the  colleague  of  the  minister  of  the 
Dutch  Church  in  Albany.  The  inevitable  jealousies  at  once 
arose.  His  right  to  administer  holy  Baptism  was  first  de- 
nied, because  he  had  no  license  from  the  classis  at  Amster- 
dam. This  claim  being  disallowed  by  the  governor  and 
council  in  New  York,  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer  returned  to  Albany 
only  to  be  subjected  to  accusations  of  heresy,  for  preach- 
ing doctrines  at  variance  with  the  standards  of  the  Reformed 
Church  of  Holland  ;  and  was  finally  imprisoned  in  1676  by 
the  magistrates  in  Albany  for  "  dubious  words  "  spoken  in 
his  sermon.  For  which  bit  of  bigotry  the  magistrates  were 
summoned  to  New  York,  and  ordered  by  the  council  to 
release  their  prisoner  and  cease  their  bickerings;  to  be  recon- 
ciled and  "  consume  all  their  differences  in  the  fire  of  love." 
But  after  this  the  Rev.  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer  appears  to  have 


134 


abstained  from  the  exercise  of  his  ministry  and  to  have 
devoted  himself  to  the  care  of  the  estate,  which  devolved 
upon  him  by  the  death  of  the  patroon.  So  far  as  our 
ecclesiastical  history  in  Albany  is  concerned,  it  is  only  an 
episode  that  led  to  no  rooting  and  no  results. 

Looking  toward  the  real  beginning  of  the  church  in  Al- 
bany, I  find  the  first  definite  proposal  made  in  1695,  by  the 
Rev.  John  Miller,  who  was  for  three  years  chaplain  of  the 
fort  in  New  York.  And  it  is  made  in  a  right  churchly  way. 
Lamenting  the  divisions  amongst  Christians  and  bewailing 
the  lack  of  clergymen  to  minister  to  the  English  settlers,  he 
proposes,  in  a  letter  to  the  bishop  of  London,  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  "  Bishop  to  reside  in  New  York  with  a  staff  of 
well-learned  clergymen  whom  he  could  send  into  the  towns 
of  the  province,  and  form,  as  opportunity  presented,  parishes 
of  the  Church  of  England,  or  at  least  give  the  members  of 
the  church  regular  services."  He  also  asks  in  particular  for  the 
appointment  of  a  chaplain  to  the  soldiers  in  Albany.  Earlier 
by  seventy  years  than  the  petition  of  the  Connecticut  clergy, 
this  suggestion  of  the  true  method  of  planting  the  church  in 
America,  upon  the  old  plan  of  the  Bishop  and  his  cathedral 
staff  making  a  strong  church  centre,  is  satisfactory  and  sug- 
gestive in  the  spirit  that  prompted  it.  What  vantage  ground 
it  would  have  given  the  Church,  if  it  could  have  been  carried 
out,  is  impossible  to  overstate.  But  it  went  over  until  the 
days  of  William  and  Mary,  and  then  the  wretched  substitute 
of  a  commissary  of  the  Bishop  of  London  took  its  place, 
and  in  spite  of  Inglis  in  New  York  and  Bray  in  Maryland, 
and  of  the  "  ministry  act,"  which  established  the  Church  in 
America,  little  was  done  beside  the  securing  of  a  few  grants, 
the  planting  of  scattered  parishes  and  the  distribution  of 
prayer  books  and  tracts.  One  good  reactive  benefit  ought 
to  be  mentioned  here.  The  Church  of  England  owes  the 
existence  of  its  glorious  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the 
Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  to  Dr.  Bray's  representation  of  the 
needs  of  America.  The  first  actual  beginning  of  services 
here  was  by  the  Rev.  Thoroughgood  Moore,  who  came  in 
1704  as  missionary  to  the  Mohawk  Indians,  and  held  services 
on  the  very  spot  where  we  are  now  gathered,  which  then 
was  Fort  Frederick.  Curiously  interturned  are  the  threads 
which  go  to  make  up  the  story  of  motives,  hindrances  and 
results  in  connection  with  this  beginning.  The  line  of  posts 
established  by  the   French,  from  the  Niagara  river  to  the 


135 


Mohawk,  and  the  energy  of  the  Jesuit  missionaries,  combin- 
ing as  they  did  always,  the  interests  of  the  Church  and  the 
State,  of  the  Cross  and  the  crown  of  France,  threatened  col- 
lision between  the  two  nations  of  France  and  England,  and 
the  great  interest  of  the  fur  traders  required  that  the  English 
trading  posts  should  be  undisturbed.  Added  to  this  came 
the  impression  made  upon  Queen  Anne,  especially  by  Bel- 
lamore  and  Cornbury,  as  to  the  great  importance  of  main- 
taining the  friendly  alliance  which  the  Dutch  had  begun  with 
the  five  Indian  tribes,  and  in  order  to  do  this  of  making  the 
Indians  Christians.  Albany  was  the  central  point,  to  which 
a  yearly  conference  of  the  chiefs  of  the  five-nations  was 
called,  and  where  the  attempt  was  made  to  impress  them 
with  the  majesty  of  the  British  crown  ;  and  here  the  first 
missionary  was  sent,  to  make  this  the  basis  of  operations  for 
mission  work  among  the  two  tribes — the  Mohawks  and  the 
Onondagas.  But,  alas !  the  influences  of  counteraction  were 
too  strong.  Mr.  Moore  made  several  attempts  to  reach  the 
Mohawks,  but  failed,  owing  to  the  rehgious  jealousies  of  the 
French,  and  owing  to  the  great  unwillingness  of  the  fur 
traders  to  allow  their  nefarious  operations  to  be  interfered 
with.  To  make  the  Indians  sober  would  have  interfered 
with  the  sale  of  spirits,  and  to  educate  them  too  far  would 
make  them  wise  enough  to  see  the  folly  of  the  bargains  they 
were  driving  in  the  exchange  of  skins  and  furs  for  beads  and 
trinkets.  Finding  it  impossible  to  get  access  to  the  Mo- 
hawks, Mr.  Moore  "  left  Albany  and  the  Indians  in  1705 
without  any  thought  of  returning."  This  suspension  of  the 
services,  which  the  English  had  "  impatiently  desired,"  was 
brief;  and  the  next  step  is  the  firm  planting  of  the  Church 
to  stay.  The  incorporation  here  under  the  name  of  "  the 
Rector  and  inhabitants  of  Albany  in  communion  with  the 
Church  of  England  as  by  law  estabUshed,"  and  the  coming 
of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Barclay,  as  chaplain  to  the  fort,  in 
1708,  began  the  full  occupation  of  the  ground.  Mr.  Bar- 
clay preached  in  EngHsh  and  Dutch,  and  ministered  for  a 
time  to  the  Indians  in  Schenectady.  And  after  some  years 
of  worship  in  a  small  Lutheran  chapel,  the  English  church 
was  built  in  17 16  by  a  gift  from  the  city  and  by  subscrip- 
tions from  the  garrison,  and  from  Schenectady  and  other 
parts  of  the  province. 

The  beauty  and  poetry  of  things  are  always  far  more  in 
their  beginnings  than  in  their  ends.     The  spring  just  burst- 

136 


ing  through  the  leaves  and  stones  of  its  birthplace,  and  the 
full  rush  of  the  brook  in  its  earliest  starting  from  the  spring, 
are  redolent  with  beauty  and  resonant  with  song.  As  it 
goes  on  and  widens  into  smooth  water  the  banks  are  tame 
and  the  flow  more  sluggish ;  though  all  the  while  it  is  far 
richer  with  the  wealth  of  commerce  and  the  blessing  of 
refreshment  to  the  world.  And  so  it  is  in  the  story  of  almost 
all  growth.  The  picturesque  and  the  romantic  are  at  the 
first.  What  follows,  naturally,  of  our  growth,  is  far  richer  in 
results,  but  tamer  in  the  telUng.  In  1737  the  first  native- 
born  clergyman,  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Barclay,  was 
Rector  of  St.  Peter's  church  for  eight  years,  and  went  from 
here  to  be  Rector  of  Trinity  church.  New  York.  Barclay, 
Miln,  Beasley,  Berclay,  Ogilvie,  Thomas  Brown,  Harry 
Monro,  these  were  the  succession  down  to  1769,  when  the 
charter  was  granted  to  St.  Peter's  church.  Then  came  the 
Revolution  with  all  its  suspicions  and  disasters.  And  in  1787 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Ellison  became  rector,  and  under  him  the 
second  building  was  erected  on  this  present  site  in  1802. 
Mr.  Ellison  died  in  that  year  after  a  ministry  of  much  use- 
fulness. He  was  a  prominent  figure  in  the  Albany  of  that 
day ;  the  teacher  of  Bishop  Philander  Chase  and  of  Feni- 
more  Cooper,  and  a  great  favorite  in  society.  Beasley, 
Dows,  Lacey,  these  bring  the  names  down  to  our  present 
memories,  and  end  the  period  during  which  the  history  of 
St.  Peter's  church  was  the  history  of  our  Church  in  Albany. 
During  Dr.  Lacey's  rectorship  the  parish  of  St.  Paul's  was 
organized  in  1827.  And  during  the  rectorship  of  Bishop 
Potter,  which  extended  from  1833  to  1854,  the  parishes  of 
Trinity,  Grace  and  Holy  Innocents  were  organized.  Upon 
Dr.  Potter's  election  to  the  episcopate,  Dr.  Pitkin  became 
the  Rector,  and  under  his  administration  the  present  build- 
ing, except  the  completed  tower,  was  built.  Then  came 
Mr.  Wilson  (with  Mr.  Tatlock  as  his  associate),  whom  I  suc- 
ceeded, and  after  me  Dr.  Snively  and  Dr.  Battershall.  The 
men  who  have  filled  the  rectorship  for  the  last  fifty-three 
years  are  all  living.  Until  the  incorporation  of  the  Cathe- 
dral in  1873,  no  distinct  organization  of  our  Church  had 
been  undertaken  here  since  1850,  although  St.  Paul's  main- 
tained its  mission  for  several  years  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
city,  now  given  over  to  the  care  of  Trinity  church.  There 
have  been  sixteen  rectors  of  St.  Peter's  in  the  178  years  of 
its  existence ;   seven  at  St.  Paul's  in  its  sixty  years ;  five  of 

137 


Trinity  in  its  forty-seven  years  ;  nine  of  Grace  in  its  forty 
years  ;  and  six  of  Holy  Innocents  in  its  thirty-six  years.  I 
find  the  first  data  on  which  to  base  our  growth  in  Albany  in 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Monro's  report  of  forty-four  communicants 
and  one  hundred  and  fifty  attendants,  about  1770.  In  1791 
Mr.  Ellison,  to  whom  the  Church  was  deeply  indebted  for 
wise  and  energetic  administration,  presented  to  Bishop  Pro- 
voost  to  be  confirmed,  in  St.  Peter's  church,  one  hundred 
and  thirty-six  white  and  eleven  colored  persons.  It  would 
be  a  more  satisfactory  comparison  if  I  knew  the  difference 
in  the  population  of  Albany  then  and  now.  But  at  least  it 
is  a  matter  of  thankfulness  to  realize  that  to-day  the  forty- 
four  communicants  have  become  twenty-five  hundred,  the 
one  Parish  five  Parishes  and  the  Cathedral ;  and  that  their 
activities  are  recognized  in  all  good  works  and  ways  through- 
out the  city. 

The  details  of  this  story  must  be  completed  by  the  facts 
of  the  branching  out  of  from  the  old  parish  of  its  flourishing 
scions.  Of  these,  the  oldest,  St.  Paul's,  kept  its  semi-cen- 
tennial nine  years  ago,  when  a  goodly  number  of  clergy,  in- 
cluding four  of  its  former  Rectors  (two  of  them  now  Bishops), 
kept  the  festival,  and  the  steps  of  its  material  and  spiritual 
growth  were  traced  from  its  cradle  in  the  South  Pearl  street 
school  room,  through  the  present  St.  John's  Roman  Catho- 
lic church  and  the  old  South  Pearl  street  theatre  to  its  pres- 
ent building,  consecrated  in  1864.  Since  then  have  come 
the  rectory  and  the  admirable  building  for  the  Sunday 
school,  whose  strong  life  is  one  of  the  marked  features  of 
this  vigorous  Parish. 

Twelve  years  later  came  Trinity,  in  1839,  ^^^  story  of 
whose  growth  gathers  in  very  great  degree  about  the  life  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Selkirk,  its  first  Rector.  Prompted  by  the 
removal  of  St.  Paul's  from  the  southern  part  of  the  city,  a 
few  churchmen  began  the  organization  of  a  new  Parish. 
The  first  building  being  outgrown  by  the  congregation, 
was  sold,  and  the  present  church,  admirably  situated 
for  an  important  missionary  work,  was  finished  and  conse- 
crated in  1849.  I^  1868  the  parish  property  was  made  com- 
plete by  the  rectory  building,  due,  as  was  the  church 
building,  in  large  degree,  to  Mr.  Selkirk's  indefatigable  ear- 
nestness. And  its  story,  under  its  present  rector,  is  what  it 
has  been  all  its  life,  the  story  of  a  patient  and  faithful  strug- 
gle, to  minister  to  the  people  of  its  neighborhood  against 
great  odds  of  poverty. 

138 


Grace  church  was  founded  in  1846,  and  was  cared  for  in 
early  infancy  by  the  priest  who  bears  the  old  and  honorable 
name  of  the  first  patroon,  and  the  first  English  clergyman  in 
Albany.  Beginning  with  the  principle  of  free  seats,  which  I 
am  glad  to  say  it  has  always  maintained,  it  was  known  at 
first  as  "  the  free  Episcopal  church,"  and  inaugurated  in 
Albany,  twenty-five  years  ago,  the  music  of  a  boy's  choir. 
From  its  first  building,  in  1847,  ^^  Washington  avenue,  it 
crossed  over,  building  and  all,  to  Clinton  avenue,  in  1873 ; 
where,  enlarged  and  greatly  improved,  it  is  doing  noble 
service,  in  the  western  portion  of  the  city. 

The  northern  part  of  Albany  was  uncared  for  until  1850. 
Then  Mr.  DeWitt,  a  member  of  St.  Paul's  church,  built  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Innocents,  as  a  memorial  to  his  four 
children,  whom  the  I^ord  had  given  and  taken  away.  To 
the  gift  of  the  church  building,  he  added  by  will  a  partial 
endowment;  and  in  1885,  after  the  death  of  Mrs.  De  Witt, 
the  Sunday  school  chapel  was  deeded  to  the  corporation. 
It  has  since  been  enlarged  and  improved,  and  so  made  bet- 
ter able  to  do  the  hard  and  important  work  of  caring  for  the 
large,  changing  and  varying  population  of  North  Albany. 

In  1869  the  setting  otf  of  the  old  northern  convocation 
into  a  Diocese  was  completed  by  the  election  of  the  first 
Bishop.  Of  course,  this  involved  the  outworking  of  the 
Episcopal  idea,  which  is  that  of  a  strong  centre,  from  which 
the  oversight  and  care  of  all  the  churches  reaches  out.  The 
founding  of  St.  Agnes'  school  in  187 1  necessitated  some 
provision  for  the  worship)  and  religious  training  of  its  pupils, 
and  this  naturally  took  the  form  of  the  Bishop's  church. 
This  led  to  the  incorporation,  in  1873,  of  the  Cathedral  of 
All  Saints,  whose  congregation,  still  worshipping  in  the  old 
foundry  where  they  began,  and  which  has  been  once  en- 
larged, are  slowly  advancing  toward  the  completion,  for  use, 
of  a  seemly  and  suitable  cathedral  church.  It  is  not  too 
much  to  say  that  in  its  institutions  of  school  and  hospital 
and  sisterhood,  in  its  introduction  of  the  cathedral  service, 
adopted  now  by  two  other  churches  in  Albany ;  in  its  stim- 
ulus to  the  older  parishes  of  the  city,  and  in  its  own  religious 
work,  it  is  fulfilling  the  promise  which  they  have  the  right  to 
expect  who  do  the  Lord's  work  in  the  Lord's  way,  and 
believe  in  the  power  of  the  Bishop's  office  to  strengthen  and 
extend  the  Church. 

The  train  of  thoughts  to  which  such  memories  lead,  strikes 


139 


into  the  three  distinct  and  separate  paths,  and  the  first  is  the 
upward  way  of  gratitude  to  God,  who  has  given  us  what  we 
might  ahnost  call  a  Christian  birth,  and  blessed  and  favored 
with  His  presence  and  His  grace,  the  outgrowth  from  it. 
The  men  that  made  our  State  held  firmly  to  the  fear  of  God, 
and  had  an  essential  and  inherent  reverence  and  respect  for 
the  rehgion  of  Jesus  Christ.  French,  Dutch,  English,  in 
whatever  else  they  differed,  were  agreed  in  this,  and  it  is 
among  the  earliest  records  of  the  time,  that  they  desired, 
established  and  sustained  the  ministrations  of  our  holy  reli- 
gion. It  is  the  fashion  of  to-day  to  look  with  almost  con- 
temptuous disdain  upon  the  narrowness  and  bitterness  of 
Puritan,  Calvinistic  and  prelatical  beliefs.  Where  they  were 
narrow,  they  needed  broadening  into  tolerance  ;  when  they 
were  bitter,  they  needed  sweetening,  hke  the  waters  of 
Marah,  with  the  tree  of  the  sweetness  of  the  love  of  Jesus 
crucified.  But  we  may  never  lose  sight  of  the  sturdy  and 
steadfast  belief  of  our  forefathers,  which  entered  so  largely 
into  their  endurance,  their  manhood  and  their  virtues.  We 
may  never  forget  that  their  hearthstones  were  altars  of  family 
prayer ;  that  the  Bible  was  to  them  the  very  Word  of  grace 
and  truth ;  and  the  Book  enthroned  and  enshrined  as  the 
voice  of  God.  The  Lord's  day,  even  if  it  were  soured  and 
shadowed  with  Sabbatarianism,  was  remembered  and  kept 
holy.  Yes,  and  we  may  remember,  too,  that  the  Christmas, 
Easter,  Ascension  and  Whitsunday  feasts,  alike  in  Dutch 
and  English  hearts,  kept  alive  in  those  earlier  days  the  great 
facts  of  the  life  of  our  dear  Lord. 

We  have  learned,  as  the  world  has  grown  in  the  truest 
Christian  thoughts  of  truth  and  worship,  that  no  good  comes 
of  the  attempt  to  mingle  things  that  will  not  mingle,  the 
varying  views  of  church  polity  ;  and  still  less  of  any  effort  to 
force  men,  by  repression  and  compulsion,  into  an  external 
oneness  of  order  and  form.  No  Enghsh  priest  to-day  would 
seek  to  solve  the  problem  of  "  unhappy  divisions,"  by  asso- 
ciation with  the  pastor  of  a  Dutch  congregation,  and  no 
Dutch  classis  to-day  would  deny  the  orders  of  an  English 
priest,  or  forbid  a  Lutheran  congregation  to  worship  as  they 
will.  But  the  tenacity  of  truth  is  better,  was  better  for  foun- 
dations than  vagueness  of  belief  or  denial  of  Christianity ; 
and  from  the  rugged  roots  that  held  firmly  in  the  deep  soil 
of  true  religious  reverence  have  grown  the  stately  trees,  fra- 
grant and  fruitful  of  "  faith  and  hope  and  charity."  We  can, 

140 


with  one  accord,  do  honor  to-day  to  the  names  of  Father 
Jogues,  and  I.abatie  and  Couture ;  of  Megalopensis,  or 
Schaets  and  the  Van  Rensselaers  and  Stuy vesants ;  of  Fab- 
ricius  and  Arencius;  of  our  own  Van  Rensselaer,  and  Moore, 
and  Barclay,  and  Lovelace,  and  Heathcote,  and  Andros, 
and  Hunter. 

It  is  fit  to  say  a  word  here  of  the  mutual  relation  between 
the  church  and  the  city ;  in  the  abstract  statement  of  mutual 
duties  and  in  the  estimate  of  their  influence  upon  each  other. 
The  theory  upon  which  all  three  of  the  dominant  religious 
bodies  began  their  existence  was  the  theory  of  an  established 
church.  Inconsistent  with  the  future  development  of  the 
republic,  it  was  wisely  and  necessarily  laid  aside.  But  there 
was  never  lost  or  laid  aside,  thank  God,  that  which  came  to 
us  in  "  the  strain  "  of  our  blood,  the  great  ideal  of  a  Chris- 
tian state  ;  that  same  ideal  which,  in  its  own  method  of  de- 
velopment has,  far  more  than  arms  and  ships,  made  England 
the  great  nation  of  the  world.  That  it  works  ill  when  either 
of  the  two  elements  become  disproportionate  is  true,  and  is 
no  argument  against  their  value  in  due  combination.  Pro- 
portion is  the  root  element  of  beauty  and  of  usefulness. 
That  Constantine's  conversion  led  more  to  secularizing  the 
church  than  to  Christianizing  the  empire ;  that  the  Bishop 
of  Rome,  in  the  judgment  of  some,  has  at  least  one  crown 
too  many  (not  stopping  to  say  that  he  were  better  with  only 
a  mitre  and  no  crown  at  all);  that  secular  and  civil  penalties 
ought  not  to  enter  into  ecclesiastical  discipline ;  that  sword 
and  keys  are  at  cross  purposes,  and  ought  not  to  be  crossed ; 
that  the  misappropriation  of  religious  benefices  to  be  the 
reward  of  royal  favor  or  to  minister  to  the  indulgence  of  the 
unholy  loves  of  kings  ;  that  the  English  establishment,  won- 
derfully as  it  works  for  good  in  our  Motherland,  is  far  more 
beneficial  to  the  State  than  to  the  Church  of  England ;  all 
these  are  true.  And  yet  it  is  not  too  much  to  say,  and  with 
the  frightful  example  of  the  French  republic  before  us,  it  is 
to  be  insisted  on,  that  no  State  can  prosper  without  the 
recognition  of  the  Church,  and  no  Church  can  do  its  blessed 
work  without  the  protection  of  the  State;  that  every  king- 
dom must  somewhat  reflect  the  image  of  the  Kingdom  of 
God  ;  that  "righteousness  exalteth  a  nation,"  and  that  "sin 
is  a  reproach  to  any  people."  It  is  a  low  thought  that  men 
take  of  a  city  who  make  its  chief  function  to  be  the  ministry 
of  sewerage  and  gas.     And  is  a  narrow  thought  of  Chris- 


141 


tianity  which  does  not  recognize  its  influence  as  foremost 
to  cleanse  and  to  enhghten  that  in  which  it  is. 

I  beheve,  then,  that  we  are  to  learn  from  the  story  of  our 
past,  and  from  the  inherent  purpose  and  evident  power  of 
the  mutual  relation  between  the  civil  and  ecclesiastical 
bodies  of  our  land,  the  value  that  each  has  for  the  other. 
The  State  has  need  in  every  way  to  encourage  religion.  The 
penny-wisdom  of  the  attempt  to  tax  church  property  is  as 
unwise  as  the  injustice  of  taxing  the  property  of  individuals 
to  support  a  system  of  religion  to  which  they  are  opposed. 
The  very  purposes  for  which  money  is  raised  by  taxation  are 
the  purposes  for  which,  in  a  large  degree,  the  Christian 
church  is  in  the  world.  The  police  system,  which  punishes 
disorder,  is  not  so  valuable  an  element  in  society  as  the  sys- 
tem of  religious  discipline  which  promotes  the  order  of  obe- 
dience to  law.  The  divine  commission,  which  sent  into  all 
the  world  teachers  of  perfect  truth  and  pure  morality,  is  the 
older  sister,  on  a  higher  plane  of  usefulness  and  value,  of  our 
system  of  popular  and  universal  education.  And  in  all  ways 
the  influence  and  power  of  Christianity  in  the  world  make 
for  good  citizenship.  Piety  and  patriotism  are  hand  in  hand  ; 
and  the  true  lover  of  his  earthly  city  and  his  earthly  country 
is  the  man  whose  "  citizenship  is  in  heaven"  and  who  "seeks 
another  country  that  is  a  heavenly."  Asking,  in  no  sense, 
support  and  utterly  refusing  any  discrimination  in  favor  of 
one  above  another  Christian  body,  the  Church  asks  of  the 
State  protection  ;  immunity  from  attack  ;  rightful  influence 
in  inculcating  principles,  and  respect  for  the  great  principles 
that  she  inculcates ;  laws  that  will  keep  quiet  and  free  from 
noise  and  toil  the  Lord's  Holy  day  ;  the  maintenance  of  the 
great  fundamental  and  primeval  truth  of  the  sanctity,  the 
indissolubility  and  the  exclusiveness  of  marriage;  license  laws 
that  shall  minimize  intemperance ;  police  powers  that  shall 
check  impurity ;  and  such  Acts  as  are  needful  to  preserve 
ecclesiastical  rights,  by  incorporations  from  the  legislature  and 
decisions  in  the  courts  of  law.  These  are  at  least  among 
the  duties  which  the  State  owes  to  the  Church. 

And  for  these  in  turn  Christianity  proposes  to  reach  her 
hand  in  blessings  over  the  State  that  shields  her  with  its  pro- 
tecting arm.  "  First  of  all,"  St.  Paul  says,  "  I  will  that 
prayers,  intercessions  and  giving  of  thanks  be  made  for  all 
men,  for  kings  and  for  all  that  are  in  authority."  Thatgieat 
summary  of  Christian  duty,  which  the  apostle  makes,  whose 


142 


opening  and  ending  seem  to  apply  it  alike  to  the  sovereignty 
of  the  people  and  to  the  sovereign  of  the  people,  runs 
through  the  domain  of  the  duties  of  reverence  and  charity, 
and  reads,  "  Honor  all  men,  love  the  brotherhood,  fear  God, 
honor  the  king."  As  an  institution,  the  Christian  Church  in 
a  city  and  a  land  Uke  ours,  will  find  its  only  and  important 
field  of  service  in  inculcating  the  great  principles  of  Chris- 
tian morality,  which  brmg  Heaven  down  to  earth.  She  will 
uphold  the  magistrates  by  prayer  and  influence  and  example. 
She  will  point  to  the  coinage  of  all  earthly  money  and  insist 
that  it  be  rendered  unto  Caesar,  alike  in  honest  payment  of 
taxes,  and  in  hberal  use  of  it  for  the  health,  the  adornment 
and  the  advantage  of  the  city.  She  will  turn  the  hospitals 
and  prisons,  where  bodies  are  cared  for  and  where  crime  is 
punished,  into  places  of  spiritual  refreshment  and  moral  re- 
form. She  will  train  up  her  children  in  such  habits  of  obe- 
dience as  will  make  them  fit  to  fill  places  of  authority.  She 
will  furnish  chaplains  for  the  public  institutions  and  offer  the 
blessing  of  her  prevailing  prayer  in  public  places  and  on 
pubHc  days.  She  will  add  one  star  at  least  to  the  flag,  and 
cross  the  stripes  with  a  perpendicular  bar ;  that  so  the  light 
of  the  manifested  love  of  God  in  Christ  may  illuminate,  and 
the  blood  of  the  redemption  that  bought  all  mankind  from 
slavery  may  consecrate,  the  "  Banner  of  the  stars."  She  will 
deepen  the  blue  with  a  truer  charity ;  she  will  incarnadine 
the  red  with  the  Blood  of  our  salvation ;  she  will  make  the 
white  whiter  with  the  purity  of  truth ;  and  Christian  men  and 
women  will  set  themselves  to  be  good  citizens,  obedient  to 
the  law,  respecters  of  "  the  powers  that  be,  which  are  or- 
dained of  God  ;"  advancers  of  the  things  that  are  "  true  and 
pure  and  lovely  and  of  good  report."  What  do  we  need  so 
much  to-day  as  some  infusion  of  Christianity  into  citizenship 
— not  in  the  way  in  which  unprincipled  politicians  play  into 
the  hands  of  more  unprincipled  churchmen,  for  party  ends 
and  sectarian  advantage  ?  That  is  a  danger  of  to-day  to  be 
resisted  and  condemned.  An  honestly,  openly  above-board 
church  establishment,  whether  in  Rome  or  England,  is  one 
thing.  Let  the  Pope  be  king  there,  if  the  people  will,  and 
the  crown  appoint  the  Bishops,  while  the  law  so  runs ;  but 
the  intrusion  into  politics  of  religious  bodies,  and  the  pan- 
dering to  religious  bodies  by  politicians,  is  a  great  danger 
and  a  great  dishonor  to  the  principles  of  the  Republic.  Far 
otherwise  is  the  intelligent.  Christian  application  to  the  ad- 

143 


ministration  of  government  and  the  selection  of  governors, 
of  the  principles  of  sound  religion  and  pure  morals.  The 
duty  of  Christian  men  to  civil  institutions  is  to  enforce,  main- 
tain and  honor  law  and  the  magistrates — the  one  as  the 
voice  and  the  other  as  the  representative  of  God.  Well 
would  it  be  for  us  who  are  enjoying  to-day  the  protection 
and  privileges  which  the  Christian  fathers  and  founders  of 
the  city  have  provided  for  us,  if  we  set  ourselves  to  advance 
the  highest  honor  that  crowns  any  city ;  its  growth,  not  in 
material  wealth  and  splendid  buildings  and  breathing  places 
for  the  poor ;  not  in  these  only,  but  far  more  in  the  richness 
of  citizens  with  honorable  character  ;  in  upbuilding  into  the 
dignities  of  order  and  morality;  and  in  the  pure  atmosphere 
of  restrained  freedom,  of  even-handed  justice,  of  large  and 
holy  Hberty,  of  purity  and  virtue  and  simphcity  and  truth. 

The  world,  in  all  its  centuries,  has  gathered  all  that  is  most 
glorious  in  its  history,  about  its  cities.  It  is  a  curious  fact 
that  they  had  their  beginning  in  sin.  Cain  was  the  first 
builder  of  a  city,  and  after  him  came  the  builders  of  the 
plains  of  Shinar.  But  the  flood  destroyed  the  one,  and  God 
came  down  and  turned  the  other  to  such  confusion  as  has 
made  Babel  ever  since  the  synonym  for  disorder  and  strife. 
The  first  record  of  favored  cities  is  in  the  appointment,  by 
God's  command,  of  cities  for  the  Levites  and  cities  of 
refuge,  in  the  plains  of  Moab  by  Jordan,  near  Jericho.  From 
that  time  cities  have  played  a  most  important  part  in  the 
history  of  the  world.  Stronger,  I  think,  than  any  other  hold, 
save  that  of  home  and  country,  upon  the  love  and  pride  of 
men,  is  the  position  that  cities  occupy.  The  county  and  the 
state  are  in  a  great  degree  abstractions.  The  country,  the 
Fatherland,  is  that  which  gathers  and  holds  our  affections. 
Next  comes  the  city,  and  most  naturally ;  as  the  place  where 
home  is,  the  place  of  neighborhood  and  friendship  and  of 
life's  dearest  ties.  It  is  well  to  think,  therefore,  with  all 
honor  of  that  which  we  commemorate  to-day — the  elevating 
by  colonial  and  royal  recognition  of  what  had  been  an  asso- 
ciation of  people  and  an  aggregation  of  houses,  to  the  dignity 
of  chartered  existence  under  the  ducal  name  of  Albany. 

We  have  no  need  and  no  desire  to  make  ourselves  ridicu- 
lous by  exaggerated  claims  and  pretensions  to  age  and  honor. 
Two  hundred  years,  however  long  to  us,  is  little  as  a  meas- 
ure of  antiquity,  and  many  a  city  of  our  land  is  greater  and 
grander  than  ours.     But  we  may  well  say  on  many  grounds 

144 


of  past  and  present,  of  political  significance  and  picturesque 
history,  of  character  and  reputation,  of  natural  and  artificial 
advantages,  that  we  are  "  citizens  of  no  mean  city,"  whose 
"  situation  is  pleasant,"  hke  Jericho  of  old.  Albany  has 
fallen  to  our  lot,  by  birth  or  by  adoption.  It  is  a  city  with 
an  honorable  record  of  two  hundred  years.  It  is  among  the 
first  of  the  chartered  cities  of  our  country.  It  is  the  city  of 
Clinton,  Schuyler,  Livingston  and  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer, 
of  William  L.  Marcy  and  Hermanus  Bleecker  and  Ganze- 
voort  and  Sanford  ;  the  city  whence  Potter  and  Kip  and  Star- 
key  and  VVadhams  went  to  be  Bishops,  and  McCloskey  to  be 
Archbishop  and  Cardinal,  where  Henry  and  Romeyn  Beck 
were  teachers,  where  Lydius  and  Sprague  and  Campbell  and 
Welch  have  been  pastors,  where  Croswell  and  Weed  were 
journalists,  where  Wendell  and  Tovvnsend  and  March  and 
Vanderpoel  practiced  medicine,  and  Spencer  and  Amos  Dean 
and  Reynolds  and  Nicholas  Hill  and  Cagger  practiced  law ; 
where  Corning  rose  to  the  front  rank  of  iron  masters ;  where 
Olcott  and  King  were  great  bankers ;  where  Pruyn  was  hon- 
orable in  the  exercise  of  his  public-spirited  interest  and  gen- 
erous hospitality ;  where  Meads  was  known  and  honored  for 
his  courteous  and  cultivated  dignity;  a  city  which  holds 
many  another  distinguished  name  on  its  roll  of  worthies.  It 
is  the  city  that  gathers  to  itself  the  legislators,  the  lawyers 
and  the  judges  of  the  greatest  State  of  the  Union.  It  is  the 
city  of  the  Dudley  Observatory,  the  Albany  academies,  and 
St.  Agnes'  school  and  the  schools  of  law  and  medicine.  We 
have  come  to  have  this  city  for  our  own.  Let  us  adorn  it 
with  memorials;  with  imitations  of  the  virtues  of  the  past; 
with  their  perpetuation ;  and  with  the  carrying  on  into  the 
future,  of  the  blessings  of  which  we  are  the  heirs.  It  is  a 
legitimate  love,  this  love  of  city,  by  all  scriptural  precedents, 
by  all  historic  antecedents,  by  all  eternal  anticipations.  The 
eyes  and  feet  of  all  Israel  made  pilgrimage  to  the  fair  place 
of  the  Hill  of  Zion,  where  lay  the  City  of  the  Great  King. 
The  round  world  has  revolved  about  the  cities  of  Rome 
and  Constantinople  and  Alexandria.  At  the  very  name  of 
city,  the  hearts  and  memories  of  men  turn  to  Venice  and 
Florence  and  Edinburgh,  the  pearls  of  the  Adriatic  and  the 
Arno,  and  the  home  of  Scott  and  Burns.  And  more  than 
all,  the  outlook  of  St.  Augustine's  dream,  of  St.  John's  vision 
and  of  every  Christian's  hope  is  the  '' Civitas  Dei;"  "the 
City  of  pure  gold  ;  "  "  the  City  that  hath  foundations,"  whose 
Builder  and  Maker  is  God. 

H5 


UNION   BAPTIST   SERVICES. 

The  union  services  at  the  First  Baptist  church  were 
largely  attended.  The  edifice  was  handsomely  deco- 
rated, flags  being  placed  about  the  gallery  and  the 
organ  loft.  The  platform  was  ornamented  with  cut 
flowers  and  potted  plants.  Seated  on  it  were  the 
pastor,  Rev.  S.  T.  Ford ;  Rev.  Albert  Foster,  of  the 
Tabernacle  Baptist;  Rev.  Mr.  Round,  of  the  Bath 
Baptist  church,  and  Rev.  John  Jaeger,  of  the  German 
Baptist  church.  A  letter  of  regret  was  read  from  Rev. 
Dr.  King,  of  the  Emmanuel  Baptist  church.  The 
musical  programme  was  elaborate  and  well-rendered. 
The  memorial  sermon  was  delivered  by  Rev.  Albert 
Foster.     He  spoke  as  follows : 

Now  shall  it  be  said  of  Jacob  and  of  Israel,  What  hath  God  wrought? 
— Numbers,  23-24. 

Not  the  least  significant  feature  in  the  religious  services  of 
this  day  is  the  fact  that  they  are  shaped  to  some  extent  by 
the  recommendation  of  civic  authorities.  It  is  a  fitting 
recognition  of  the  debt  which  our  city  owes  her  churches.  I 
am  glad  that  the  rehgious  aspect  of  this  Bi-centennial  has  not 
been  overlooked.  I  fail  to  see  how  it  could  be,  and  the  his- 
torical integrity  of  the  occasion  still  be  preserved.  It  is  no 
compliment  or  bit  of  deference  which  invokes  the  services  of 
the  different  religious  societies,  but  the  fact  that  these  socie- 
ties stand  vitally  related  to  the  two  hundred  years  of  growth. 
What  Albany  would  be  to-day  had  there  been  no  churches 
we  shall  not  assume  to  say.  Fidelity  to  truth  demands,  how- 
ever, that  we  give  them  a  large  place  in  our  attempt  to  trace 
the  sources  of  its  present  prosperity.  As  a  people  we  have 
never  regarded  a  union  of  church  and  State  with  the  least 
allowance.  We  have  felt,  and  justly  too,  that  such  a  union 
would  cause  both  civil  and  religious  interests  to  suffer.  But 
we  are  wise  enough,  I  trust,  to  discriminate  between  a  State 
religion  and  a  State  built  on  religion  which  is  a  vastly  difter- 
ent  thing.  We  do  not  need  a  religious  establishment;  we 
do  not  need  even  that  the  name  of  the  Supreme  Being  should 

146 


appear  in  our  constitution ;  but  we  do  need  that  the  authority 
of  that  Being  shall  be  recognized  as  supreme,  and  His  super- 
vision of  our  affairs  gratefully  acknowledged.  As  Baptists,  we 
meet  to-night  to  rehearse  the  part  we  have  been  permitted 
to  play  in  our  city's  history.  This  is  no  time  for  self-glorifi- 
cation. It  were  better  not  to  dwell  on  either  past  or  present 
unless  we  can  do  it  in  the  right  spirit.  I  remember  that 
once  in  the  centuries  gone  by  a  famous  heathen  king,  filled 
with  the  pride  that  so  often  revels  in  statistics,  looked  proudly 
round  on  his  superb  palaces,  hanging  gardens  and  other 
works  of  art  projected  on  a  scale  of  splendor  unknown 
before,  and  as  he  looked  he  said:  "  Is  not  this  great  Babylon 
that  I  have  built  for  the  house  of  the  kingdom  by  the  might 
of  my  power  and  for  the  honor  of  my  majesty  ?  "  And  while 
the  word  was  in  the  king's  mouth,  there  fell  a  voice  from 
heaven  saying:  "  Oh,  King  Nebuchadnezzar,  to  thee  it  is 
spoken,  the  kingdom  is  departed  from  thee.  And  they  shall 
drive  thee  from  men,  and  thy  dwelling  shall  be  with  the 
beasts  of  the  field;  they  shall  make  thee  to  eat  grass  as  oxen 
till  seven  times  shall  pass  over  thee,  until  thou  know  that  the 
Most  High  ruleth  in  the  kingdom  of  men,  and  giveth  it  to 
whomsoever  He  will."  We  shall  do  well  to  heed  the  im- 
pressive warning  from  that  far  off  age — a  warning  always 
timely,  and  addressing  itself  to  the  ear  of  churches,  no  less 
than  to  the  ear  of  nations  and  kingly  despots.  Rather  let 
us  find  the  key-note  of  this  occasion  in  the  words  we  have 
chosen  for  the  text.  Surveying  the  tokens  of  good  in  past 
and  present,  and  accepting  them  as  pledges  of  a  still  brighter 
future,  let  us  cry  with  the  ancient  seer  on  his  mount  of 
vision  :  "  Now  shall  it  be  said  of  Jacob  and  of  Israel,  What 
hath  God  wrought  ?  "  How  do  Baptists  stand  related  to 
the  best  growth  of  this  city  ?  What  contributions,  however 
slight,  have  they  made  to  its  progress?  These  are  the  ques- 
tions which,  in  the  very  nature  of  things,  can  never  be  fully 
answered.  The  brief  outhne  of  history  that  I  shall  trace  to- 
night will  suggest  far  more  than  it  can  possibly  disclose.  As 
a  denomination.  Baptists  in  Albany  are  a  comparatively 
recent  growth.  If  longevity  be  the  crowning  distinction  of 
religious  life,  let  it  be  freely  confessed  that  we  have  little  of 
which  to  boast.  To  my  mind  it  is  of  vastly  greater  import- 
ance to  be  able  to  say  that  we  have  lived  well  since  we  began 
to  live,  than  that  we  have  lived  a  long  while.  I  have  neither 
sympathy  nor  patience  with  the  attempt  so  often  made  to 

147 


trace  our  denominational  existence  back  to  the  days  of  the 
apostles.  What  difference  does  it  make  whether  we  were 
born  yesterday  or  the  day  before  ?  Our  principles  are  ap- 
ostolic and  that  is  all  we  need  care  for.  Denominations  may 
come  and  go ;  the  names  of  sects  change  or  pass  away,  but 
the  living  truth  abides,  it  is  here  to  stay.  Of  course  there 
was  Baptist  life  in  Albany  prior  to  Baptist  organization,  since 
life  of  whatever  sort  always  antedates  organization.  Unfor- 
tunately, however,  life  at  this  stage  attracts  little  attention 
and  hes  almost,  if  not  altogether  outside  the  province  of  the 
historian,  hence  we  have  no  means  of  ascertaining  to  what 
extent  it  made  itself  felt.  Not  till  the  year  1810  was  a  Bap- 
tist society  formed.  The  ground  had  long  been  preoccupied 
by  those  whose  views  differed  from  ours,  and  who  by  force 
of  temperament  and  conviclion  combined  clung  to  their 
views  with  unswerving  tenancity — a  tenacity  which  I  am  far 
from  alleging  as  cause  for  reproach.  A  little  band  number- 
ing ten  came  together  and  opened  a  room  for  public  wor- 
ship. Their  names  were  Joshua  A.  Burk,  Salem  Dutcher, 
John  Gray,  William  Penrey,  Charles  Boyington,  Tamer 
Page,  Betsey  Burk,  Catherine  Gordon,  Margaret  Jones, 
Elenor  Penrey.  At  a  meeting  held  in  Uranian  hall,  on  the 
26th  of  December,  1810,  they  elected  trustees  and  formed 
the  "  First  Baptist  Society  of  Albany."  It  would  seem  that 
they  encountered  sharp  opposition  from  the  start.  But  they 
were  none  the  worse  off  for  that.  It  is  written  of  the  Israel- 
ites that  the  more  the  Egyptians  oppressed  them  the  more 
they  multiplied  and  grew.  Opposition  is  annoying,  but  it 
is  apt  to  stimulate  growth.  In  January  23,  181 1,  the  ten 
persons  already  mentioned,  together  with  eleven  others  who 
had  joined  them,  were  formerly  recognized  as  the  "  First 
Baptist  Church  of  the  City  of  Albany,"  the  venerable  mother 
of  us  all,  in  whose  edifice,  as  historic  fitness  demands,  we 
hold  this  service  to-night.  For  a  short  time  the  young 
organization  worshipped  in  a  little  building  on  the  southeast 
corner  of  North  Pearl  and  Orange  streets,  then  for  several 
years  meetings  were  regularly  held  in  a  school-house  rented 
from  the  Methodists;  but  at  last,  in  1818,  the  Green  street 
theatre  was  purchased,  and  having  been  remodelled,  was 
formally  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God  January  i,  1819. 
About  thirty- two  years  were  spent  in  this  building.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  it  had  either  grown  too  small  for  its  mem- 
bership or  Its  location  had  ceased  to  be  desirable,  so  it  was 

148 


sold,  and  by  a  strange  freak  of  fortune  restored  to  its  origi- 
nal use,  and  became  a  theatre  once  more.  Under  the  lead- 
ership of  Rev.  Reuben  Jeffrey,  the  present  edifice  was  erected 
on  the  corner  of  Philip  street  and  Hudson  avenue  at  a  cost 
of  $26,000.  The  first  sixteen  years  of  church  Hfe  in  Green 
street  do  not  seem  to  have  been  specially  prosperous.  In 
the  exceeding  brevity  of  the  pastorates  there  is  evidence  that 
the  field  was  regarded  as  beset  with  great  discouragements. 
With  undaunted  courage  and  fidelity  the  little  church  strug- 
gled on  despite  the  fact  that  as  late  as  the  year  1827  it  did 
not  number  200  members.  But  brighter  days  were  in  store. 
The  heroic  faith  of  the  men  and  women  to  whom  we  owe  so 
much  was  destined  to  triumph.  Never  yet  did  man  endure 
"as  seeing  him  who  is  invisible "  without  receiving  "  great 
recompense  of  reward."  In  1827  the  church  called  to  its 
vacant  pulpit  a  young  man  who,  for  two  years  previous,  had 
been  pastor  of  a  little  church  at  Catskill.  His  name  was 
Bartholomew  T.  Welch.  His  coming  to  Albany  marks  an 
era  in  the  history  of  Baptists.  From  that  coming  dates  an 
almost  uninterrupted  course  of  prosperity.  As  one  to  whose 
researches  I  am  largely  indebted  in  the  preparation  of  this 
sermon,  has  well  said  :  "  His  rare  enthusiasm  was  contagious. 
His  marvelous  pulpit  power  became  quickly  known  and 
commanded  universal  recognition,  not  to  say  admiration. 
The  Baptist  church  was  lifted  into  a  prominence  it  had  not 
known.  The  congregations  were  greatly  increased.  Many 
attracted  by  the  personal  gifts  of  the  speaker,  were  led  by  the 
spirit  of  God  to  yield  to  the  power  of  the  message  he 
preached.  The  church  steadily  increased  from  year  to  year 
in  numbers  and  influence,  until  in  1834  it  numbered  327 
members,  a  large  church  for  those  days."  The  brilliant  min- 
istry of  this  gifted  man  will  be  cherished  in  lasting  remem- 
brance by  Albany  Baptists.  But  the  church  was  not  spoiled 
by  the  period  of  prosperity  and  power  on  which  it  had 
entered.  No  better  evidence  of  that  is  needed  than  the  fact 
that  it  was  just  at  this  time  that  it  began  to  agitate  the  ques- 
tion of  enlarging  the  borders  of  the  Baptist  camp.  Both 
pastor  and  people  were  impressed  with  a  solemn  sense  of 
responsibility  in  the  matter.  They  had  not  become  the 
prey  of  that  selfish  ambition  which  so  often  seizes  both 
churches  and  ministers — the  ambition  to  develop  a  mam- 
moth organization,  which  becomes  positively  unwieldly  by 
reason  of  its  own  bulk.     The  question  of  forming   a  new 

149 


church  soon  came  up  for  decision.     After  various  prelimi- 
naries, to  which  I  shall  not  refer,  since   I  am  to  deal  with 
Baptist  churches  in  general,  rather  than  with  any  particular 
church,  letters  were   granted  to  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
three  persons  to  go  out  and  form  a  new  interest.     With  this 
company  went  the  pastor.  Rev.  Dr.  Welch.     In  the  meantime 
the   Vanderheyden  palace,  as  it  was  called,  with  adjacent 
lots  on   Pearl  street,  had  been  purchased,  and   the  corner- 
stone of  the  new  church  edifice  was  laid  in  July,   1833. 
In  October  of  the  following  year  it  was  dedicated,  and  in  it 
for  thirty-six  years  the  "  Pearl  street  church  "  worshipped 
with  no  abatement  of  power  or  usefulness.     The  facile  pen 
of  Rev.  Dr.  King  has  recently  put  the  record  of  those  years 
into  permanent  form.     In  187 1  the  church  removed  from 
Pearl  street  into  the  elegant  and  commodious  edifice  which 
it  now  occupies  on   State  street,  above  Swan,  built  at  an 
expense  of  about  $200,000.     Of  course,  the  change  in  loca- 
tion necessitated  a  change  in  name.     "  Pearl  Street "  was 
reluctantly  given  up  and  "  Emmanuel "  finally  adopted.  Going 
back  now  to  1842,  we  find  that  the   old   First  church  was 
again  called  on  to  undergo  a  separation.     A  number  of  per- 
sons severed  their  connection  with  it,  and  formed  what  was 
known  as  the  "South   Baptist  church."     It  seems  to  have 
had  a  struggling  existence  from  the  start,  and  at  the  end  of 
seventeen  years  disbanded.     Despite  the  brevity  of  its  exist- 
ence and  the  difficulties  it  encountered,  which  finally  culmi- 
nated in  its  disruption,  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  great 
good  was   accomplished.     An    evangelistic   movement   in 
1840,  started  in  the  Pearl  street  church,  with  the  assistance 
of  Elder  Jacob  Knapp,  had  resulted  in  large  accessions  to 
all  the  churches,  and  partly  in  consequence  of  this  move- 
ment a  number  of  persons   felt  constrained  to  organize,  in 
1846,  the  "  State  Street  Baptist  church."     Through  the  gen- 
erosity of  Mr.  William  Newton  and  Mr.  S.  M.  Fish,  a  house 
of  worship  was  built,  which  was  sold  to  the  Calvary  church 
in    1865.     In  the   manual   of  the  latter  church,  I  find  this 
item  with  reference  to  the  State  street  church :  "  Under  the 
labors  of  Polders  Knapp,  Swan  and  others  many  were  con- 
verted, but  from  various  causes  the  strength  of  the   church 
had  greatly  declined,  and  it  was  finally  deemed  expedient  to 
dissolve  its  organization  in  anticipation  that  a  considerable 
proportion  of  the  members  that  remained  would  join  the 
Calvary  church,  which  had  purchased  the  house."     Under 


150 


the  ministry  of  Rev.  Wm.  Hague,  D.  D.,  the  Pearl  street 
church  developed  a  strong  interest  in  missions  and  church 
extension.  Three  missions  were  established  at  different 
points  throughout  the  city.  Of  these  the  German  mission 
was  the  first  started.  In  1854,  Rev.  J.  G.  Oncken,  the  Bap- 
tist apostle  of  Germany,  visited  this  mission,  baptized  nine 
converts,  and  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  the  German 
Baptist  church  was  organized.  For  a  number  of  years  its 
pastor  was  supported  by  the  Pearl  street  church,  but  it  has 
long  become  self-sustaining  and  freed  from  debt,  is  doing 
excellent  work  under  its  present  pastor.  Rev.  John  Jaeger. 
North  Broadway  was  another  of  the  missions  opened  by  the 
Pearl  street  church  under  the  ministry  of  Dr.  Hague.  A 
Sabbath  school  was  started  in  Burt's  building,  on  Broadway, 
and  was  soon  afterward  transferred  to  the  State  arsenal.  Rev. 
J.  B.  Morse  was  appointed  to  labor  on  this  field.  An  en- 
thusiastic band  of  workers  co-operated  with  him.  Of  these 
George  Uawson  became  the  recognized  chief,  his  presence 
giving  inspiration  to  every  movement  and  his  wise,  far- 
sighted  counsel  paving  the  way  to  success.  The  mission 
grew  rapidly.  Rev.  Mr.  Morse  having  left  it  in  1858,  in  the 
following  year  Rev.  J.  D.  Fulton  was  invited  to  assume  the 
supervision  of  the  field,  and  with  the  view  of  initiating  a 
church  organization.  On  the  12th  of  November  a  council 
was  called,  the  "  Tabernacle  Baptist  church "  was  duly 
recognized,  and  took  its  place  among  the  sisterhood  of 
churches.  A  missionary  chapel  had  already  been  built  on 
North  Pearl  street,  and  this  the  young  organization  occupied, 
enlarging  it  as  occasion  required,  and  worshipped  there  till 
1877,  when  it  moved  into  its  new  house  on  the  corner  of 
Ten  Broeck  street  and  Clinton  avenue,  which  it  now  occu- 
pies, grateful  to  God  for  the  measure  of  prosperity  it  enjoys. 
In  1858,  a  union  movement  led  to  the  establishment  of  reli- 
gious services  in  the  Townsend  park.  These  developed  into 
a  Sunday  school,  held  in  a  grain  store  on  Washington 
avenue  near  Knox  street.  Out  of  this  grew  the  Washington 
Avenue  Baptist  church,  which  was  organized  on  the  i6th  of 
February,  i860.  Under  this  name  the  church  passed  five 
years  of  varying  experience,  but  on  the  whole  its  con- 
dition must  have  been  prosperous,  for  at  the  end  of  that 
time,  feeling  the  need  of  better  accommodations,  it 
puichased  the  house  of  the  State  street  church,  adopting  then 
the  name  of  the  "  Calvary  Baptist   church."    Under   that 


151 


name  it  rapidly  grew  to  be  one  of  the  strongest  churches  in 
the  city.  In  1880  it  tore  down  the  old  building  and  erected 
on  its  site  the  handsome,  commodious  structure  in  which  it 
now  worships.  As  an  outgrowth,  perhaps,  of  the  missionary 
movement  under  Dr.  Hague,  "  The  Albany  Baptist  Mission- 
ary Union"  originated  in  1863.  It  was  composed  of  dele- 
gates from  all  the  churches.  During  its  active  existence  of 
twenty  years  it  did  a  vast  amount  of  good,  establishing 
missions  at  Paigeville,  Bath,  Greenbush,  Kenwood,  Madison 
avenue  and  North  Albany,  at  the  same  tmie  doing  not  a 
litde  to  develop  the  benevolence  and  activity  of  the  churches. 
A  history  of  Baptist  work  in  Albany  would  be  incomplete 
without  some  reference  to  the  African  churches,  unhappily 
now  extinct.  Two  were  formed  at  different  times.  The 
first  started  in  1820,  and  was  known  as  the  "Albany  African 
Church  Association."  Its  edifice  was  located  on  Hamilton 
street  between  Grand  and  Fulton  streets.  In  1825  it  took 
the  name  of  the  "  First  African  Baptist  Society."  In  1869 
its  property  was  sold  to  the  Roman  CathoHcs.  The  second 
African  church  was  organized  in  1870,  but  from  lack  of 
support  was  discontinued  in  a  very  few  years,  and  its  house 
on  Chestnut  street,  near  Dove,  sold  to  the  Christian  church, 
and  is  now  occupied  by  it.  Thus  in  barest  outline  have  I 
sketched  the  history  of  our  Baptist  churches  in  Albany, 
From  a  very  humble  beginning  we  have  grown,  by  the 
blessing  of  God,  into  a  strong  and  prosperous  body,  with  an 
aggregate  membership  of  nearly  2,500.  In  all  that  has 
pertained  to  the  welfare  of  this  good  old  city  during  the 
past  seventy-five  years,  Baptists  have  borne  their  part.  Com- 
mercial, mechanical,  political,  legal,  literary,  scientific  inter- 
ests have  all  received  contributions  from  them  Many  of 
their  representatives  have  been  honored  citizens  as  well  as 
useful  church  members.  Among  these  were  Friend  Hum- 
phrey, Ira  Harris,  Eli  Perry,  George  Dawson  and  a  host  of 
others,  many  of  whom  are  still  with  us.  In  the  Baptist 
pulpit  of  Albany  have  stood  men  whose  power  has  been 
recognized  and  felt  throughout  our  land,  men  like  Wayland 
and  Welch,  and  Ide  and  Hague,  and  Jeffrey  and  Fulton, 
and  Lorimer  and  Magoon,  and  Bridgman  and  Peddie.  For 
its  beautiful  "  Rural  cemetery  "  Albany  is  indebted  to  the 
eloquent  appeals  and  stimulating  counsel  of  a  Baptist 
preacher.  And  here,  perhaps,  I  might  well  close  this  hur- 
ried sketch.     But  there  is  another  side  to  the  history'  of  these 

152 


years — a  side  which  must  lie  largely  in  the  realm  of  the 
unwritten,  to  which  I  cannot  refrain  from  referring.  I 
remember  that  the  best  part  of  the  work  of  either  a  man  or 
an  organization  is  that  which  can  never  be  gathered  up  and 
presented  in  statistics.  The  distinction  between  power  and 
influence,  as  emphasized  by  Dr.  Lord  in  one  of  his  historical 
lectures,  is  very  just  and  discriminating.  He  says  :  "  Influ- 
ence never  passes  away,  but  power  is  ephemeral.  Theolo- 
gians, poets,  philosopher,  great  writers,  have  influences  and 
no  power ;  railroad  kings  and  bank  presidents  have  power, 
but  not  necessarily,  influence.  Saint  Augustine  in  a  little 
African  town  had  more  influence  than  the  bishop  of  Rome. 
Rousseau  had  no  power,  but  he  created  the  French  revolu- 
tion. Socrates  revolutionized  Greek  philosophy,  but  he  had 
not  power  enough  to  save  his  life  from  unjust  accusations." 
Baptist  power  during  these  years  had  not  been  inconsider- 
able. Let  us  hope,  however,  that  Baptist  influence  has  far 
exceeded  it.  If  we  have  been  true  to  our  opportunities, 
what  great  and  lasting  influence  should  principles  like  ours 
exert  on  this  community.  We  believe  in  a  regenerated 
church  membership,  and  the  working  out  of  that  principle 
ought  to  contribute  vastly  to  the  public  honesty,  integrity 
and  purity.  We  believe  in  the  Scriptures  as  the  only  author- 
itative standard  of  faith  and  practice,  and  that  ought  to 
bring  to  the  discharge  of  every  public  trust  a  sense  of  obli- 
gation imperative,  exalted,  inteUigent,  calling  sacred  convic- 
tions to  the  front  and  trampHng  mere  whims  and  impulses 
under  foot.  Furthermore,  we  believe  in  soul  liberty  or  the 
right  and  duty  of  every  man  to  interpret  God's  word  for 
himself,  and  that  ought  to  keep  alive  in  the  public  heart  a 
love  of  the  holiest  freedom,  and  make  each  man  as  mindful 
of  his  brother's  rights  as  of  his  own.  Let  me  say  in  conclusion 
that  the  thing  in  which  Albany  Baptists  seem  lacking  at  the 
present  is  missionary  aggressiveness.  We  are  in  danger  of 
forgetting  that  the  words  which  God  spake  to  the  aged 
Joshua  are  applicable  to  us :  "  There  remaineth  yet  much 
land  to  be  possessed."  Since  the  decline  of  our  Missionary 
union  we  have  not  done  all  that  we  might  have  done.  If 
we  are  to  hold  our  place  among  the  rehgious  forces  of  this 
city,  we  must  keep  pace  with  the  demands  its  growth  makes 
upon  us.  To  our  Baptist  brotherhood  I  should  Uke  to  say 
to-night  what  old  Horace  Greeley  was  wont  to  say  to  young 
men  :  "  Go  west !  "     Not  that  any  of  our  churches  should 


change  their  present  location,  but  recognize  that  the  drift  of 
population  is  westward,  and  adjust  their  work  with  reference 
to  it.  There  is  a  beautiful  legend  connected  with  the  found- 
ing of  Constantinople,  which  the  Roman  historian  relates. 
With  lance  in  hand  the  Emperor  Constantine  traced  its 
boundary  lines,  and  continued  to  take  in  so  much  space  that 
his  attendants  ventured  to  observe  that  he  had  already 
exceeded  the  most  ample  measure  of  a  large  city.  "  I  shall 
still  advance,"  rephed  the  emperor,  "  till  he,  the  invisible 
guide  who  marches  before  me,  thinks  proper  to  stop."  In 
like  manner  may  Albany  Baptists  in  days  to  come  continue 
to  live  and  work  in  absolute  loyalty  to  the  invisible  guide 
who  evermore  goes  before  them. 


STATE    STREET   PRESBYTERIAN. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  union  services  held  in 
the  city  was  that  of  the  Presbyterian  faith  at  the  State 
street  church.  Adornment  was  not  necessary,  for  the 
handsome  church  edifice  was  brilliant  in  its  myriads  of 
lights,  and  was  crowded  with  devout  and  reverential 
parishioners.  People  flocked  to  the  church  very  early, 
and  long  before  the  commencement  of  the  services,  the 
vast  edifice  was  filled.  The  ushers  had  plenty  to  do, 
and  the  chancel  platform  was  occupied  by  the  Presby- 
terian divines  of  the  city.  The  music  was  rich,  and 
Organist  Frank  Van  Derzee  played  the  various  selec- 
tions with  skill  and  proficiency,  lending  an  additional 
charm  to  the  interesting  services  of  the  evening.  The 
voices  of  the  choir  were  well  balanced,  particularly  the 
voices  of  the  ladies,  who  sang  with  fervor  and  anima- 
tion that  did  not  appeal  in  vain  for  a  response  from  the 
large  congregation.  The  singing,  true  to  the  congre- 
gational order,  was  an  exceedingly  pleasant  phase  of 
a  most  delightful  union  service.  The  selections  of  the 
evening  were  as  follows  : 

154 


Organist F.  Van  Derzee. 

Voluntary — Offertorium  in  C Lemmens. 

Offertorie — Fontaise Lemmens. 

Postlude Tielman. 

Chorister Mr.  J.  V.  Burr. 

Rev.  Horace  C.  Stanton  preached  eloquently.  The 
sermon  was  appropos,  filled  with  thoughtful  reflec- 
tions, and  was  delivered  with  great  force  and  effect. 
He  chose  for  his  text  Isaiah  Ixiii :  7. 

Isaiah  Ixiii,  7:    "I  will  mention  the  loving  kindnesses  of  the  Lord." 

Two  hundred  years  their  cloudy  wings  expand  around  us. 
And  from  the  vantage  ground  of  this  memorable  day  we 
turn  to  survey  the  past.  The  history  of  every  company  of 
true  worshipers  of  God,  displays  evidence  of  His  love  and 
overruling  providence.  And  the  annals  of  the  great  reli- 
gious bodies  whose  representatives  are  gathered  here,  unmis- 
takably exhibit  the  fidehty  of  the  covenant  God.  We  see 
the  divine  mind,  divine  might,  divine  mercy  everywhere ; 
more  than  we  see  the  mind  or  might  of  men.  Brethren 
who  might  themselves  have  performed  it  more  acceptably, 
have  assigned  to  me  the  duty  of  presenting  a  brief  sketch. 

THE  ORIGIN  AND  GROWTH  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM   IN  ALBANY. 

A  simple  historical  narrative  is  all  that  is  expected  at  my 
hands.  Of  our  Presbyterian  churches,  each  one  has  a 
history  sufficiently  interesting  to  yield  materials  for  a  dis- 
course far  more  extended  than  can  be  given  to  the  entire 
gioup.  The  necessity  of  brevity  confines  us  to  only  the 
most  salient  points ;  compels  omission  of  many  names  hon- 
ored in  our  records,  many  events  well  worthy  of  rehearsal. 
In  Albany  first  came  the  Dutch  Reformed  church  (about 
1642),  then  the  Lutheran.  But,  before  1760  a  few  families 
from  the  north  of  Ireland  setded  here,  trained  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  church  of  Scotland,  and  fond  of  their  own  forms 
of  worship.  Presbyterianism  did  not  come  sooner,  because 
there  were  so  few  English  speaking  people.  Albany  was 
almost  as  Dutch  as  Holland  itself  There  had  not  been  an 
English  sermon  preached  in  its  Reformed  church  previous 
to  1776. 

The  first  allusion  to  the  First  Presbyterian  church  here,  is  in 
the  minutes  of  the  synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  May 

155 


26,  1760.  In  1762,  the  Presbyterian  families  solicited  sub- 
scriptions to  build  a  church.  Mr.  Hector  Alison  was  the  first 
Presbyterian  minister  known  to  have  visited  the  place.  The 
first  edifice,  built  in  1776  and  costing  $7,000,  was  long  called 
"  The  Presbyterian  church  of  Albany."  During  the  revo- 
lution it  had  financial  struggles ;  was  recommended  to  the 
other  churches  for  aid ;  but,  though  without  a  pastor,  it 
maintained  its  services.  Of  a  candidate  for  the  eldership,  we 
read  that  the  moderator  of  session,  "  examined  into  his 
acquaintance  with  the  general  doctrines  of  the  Christian  reli- 
gion, the  sense  in  Avhich  he  understood  those  that  have  been 
subjects  of  dispute,  the  nature  and  design  of  the  sacraments, 
and  the  subjects  to  whom  they  should  be  administered,  in 
view  of  the  order,  government  and  discipline  of  the  church." 
Each  elder  had  a  particular  district  of  the  congregation 
assigned  for  his  visitation,  and  must  report  upon  it  to  the 
session.  During  the  last  century,  part  of  each  Sabbath  was 
devoted  to  teaching  the  children  the  shorter  catechism.  The 
chief  officer  of  the  school  was  called  the  "  Principal."  Pre- 
vious to  the  sacrament,  tokens  were  distributed  by  the  elders 
to  the  persons  expected  to  attend.  When  all  were  seated, 
and  before  the  communion  commenced,  these  tokens  were 
collected.  Thus,  none  disallowed  by  the  session  could  par- 
take. Absentees  from  the  sacrament  were  required  to  explain 
their  absence.  Discipline  was  strict.  Sometimes  trials  of 
oftenders  constitute  a  large  portion  of  the  business  of  the 
session  at  their  monthly  meetings  ;  most  of  the  offenses  being 
absence  from  church  worship,  violation  of  promises,  profanity, 
Sabbath-breaking  and  the  like.  Session  watched  not  only 
the  people,  but  the  preacher.  A  supply  one  Sabbath  uttered 
what  they  deemed  unsound  doctrine ;  and  a  committee  of 
Session  was  appointed  to  draw  up  a  statement  to  presbytery 
of  the  errors  in  that  sermon.  In  1786,  session  resolved  that, 
"  without  special  reasons,"  no  marriage  should  be  solemnized 
in  the  congregation  without  three  several  intimations  given 
in  pubUc.  The  music  was  at  first  led  by  a  precentor,  and 
deep  disgrace  fell  on  several  presuming  individuals  who 
aspired  to  this  office  without  proper  qualification.  In  1803 
session  received  a  petition  for  disuse  of  the  psalms  and  intro- 
duction of  the  hymn  books  recommended  by  general  assem- 
bly. There  was  strong  opposition.  When  the  petition  was 
granted,  some  persons  left  the  church.  Then  came  a  choir. 
Then  the  choir  stood   up  when   they  sang.     Then  instru- 

1.6 


merits  of  music — the  violin  and  flutes.  Then  professional 
singers.  At  each  change,  some  of  the  good  people  took 
great  offence.  The  name  of  Boyd  is  one  which  figures  most 
prominently  in  the  history  of  the  church,  both  in  session  and 
board  of  trustees  for  five  generations,  from  before  the  revo- 
lution to  the  present  decade.  The  minutes  of  the  trustees 
have  been  preserved  perfect  and  unbroken  for  more  than  a 
hundred  years.  Some  may  interest:  Resolved,  "  That  the 
clerk  get  3s.  for  making  a  publication  of  marriage,  6d.  for 
every  person  christened,  and  that  the  price  of  burying  under 
the  church  be  ;^3  for  an  adult,  30s.  for  a  person  under  14 
years."  One  duty  of  the  sexton  was  "  to  see  that  chil- 
dren and  servants  behaved  with  decorum  during  service." 
The  patroon  had  his  choice  of  a  pew.  Prominent  seats  near 
the  pulpit  were  appointed  for  the  corporation,  the  governor, 
the  minister,  the  elders  and  deacons.  The  first  pastor  was 
John  MclJonald,  installed  November,  1775,  the  annual 
income  of  the  church  being  about  $goo.  It  was  desirable 
to  encourage  contributions.  The  trustees  resolved  "  That 
1,000  coppers  be  stamped  '  church  penny,' and  placed  in 
the  hands  of  the  treasurer  for  the  purpose  of  exchanging  with 
the  congregation  at  the  rate  of  12  for  one  shilling,  in  order 
to  add  respect  to  the  weekly  collections."  When  the  Albany 
presbytery  was  formed  in  1790,  John  McDonald  was  first 
moderator.  On  leaving  the  First  church  he  gathered  about 
him  the  nucleus  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  on  Lan- 
caster street.  The  Presbyterian  church  had  already  out- 
stripped the  Lutheran,  which  had  the  start  by  more  than  half 
a  century,  and  was  fast  gaining  on  the  Dutch  Reformed, 
which  had  a  century  of  precedence.  When  the  Rev.  Elipha- 
let  Nott  was  proposed  as  pastor,  there  was  objection.  Some 
talked  of  forming  a  new  church.  Said  they  wanted  a  min- 
ister who  could  "  compose  with  accuracy  ;  speak  correctly." 
But  he  succeeded  as  pastor  and  preacher.  In  1801  a  charity 
collection  was  taken,  after  sermon  by  Mr.  Nott.  Sum  real- 
ized, $327;  remarked  as  "  the  most  liberal  collection  ever 
taken  in  the  city."  At  this  time  the  church  noted  Romanism 
and  infidelity  as  especially  threatening  to  our  institutions. 
Attending  the  church  were  Alexander  Hamilton  and  Aaron 
Burr.  When  Hamilton  was  killed  by  Burr,  Dr.  Nott 
preached  his  funeral  sermon,  directed  against  duelling.  It 
gave  the  author  wide  celebrity.  Dr.  Nott's  subsequent 
career  as  an  educator  is  well  known.     In  181 7,  a  committee 


157 


was  appointed  to  purchase  for  a  minister's  library  books  not 
exceeding  in  value  $i,ooo — then  a  munificent  sum.  And 
the  trustees  procured  the  passage  of  a  law  allowing  two 
chains  to  be  stretched  across  the  street  at  each  end  of  the 
church,  to  keep  vehicles  from  passing  during  service.  These 
remained  there  fifteen  years.  In  June,  1827,  a  number  were 
dismissed  to  the  church  in  Greenbush,  organized  about  this 
time.  When  the  Presbyterian  edifice  was  improved,  in  1831, 
it  was  called  "  the  most  elegandy  finished  church  in  the 
city."  In  December,  1831,  the  "Fifth  Presbyterian  church" 
was  organized  ;  but  three  years  later  it  became  extinct.  The 
most  noted  pastor  of  the  First  church  was  Dr.  John  N. 
Campbell.  During  his  pastorate  at  Washington,  he  had 
President  Jackson  among  his  hearers,  and  was  a  frequent 
visitor  at  the  president's  house.  He  had  regal  presence, 
urbane  manners,  intellectual  acuteness,  knowledge  of  human 
nature,  tact  in  governing,  great  decision.  His  sermons 
short,  simple,  scriptural,  were  delivered  with  "  force  and 
grace."  In  his  church  he  was  called  "  the  pope,"  and  he 
was  a  man  of  mark  in  community  and  state.  In  1846,  when 
it  was  necessary  to  build  a  new  edifice,  there  arose  contro- 
versy. Some  withdrew  and  organized  the  Congregational 
church  on  Eagle  street,  liut  the  First  church  survived  the 
trial,  grew  in  numbers  and  influence.  Dr.  Campbell  was 
pastor  thirty-four  years,  and  his  death  produced  a  profound 
impression.  The  legislature  adjourned  in  token  of  respect ; 
the  highest  officials  in  the  commonwealth  stood  beside  his 
bier.  In  1866  a  school  was  established  on  Alexander  street 
for  the  religious  instruction  of  the  neglected  children  in  that 
part  of  the  city.  Thus  new  missionary  activity  was  devel- 
oped. Of  this  church's  thirteen  pastors,  most  have  been 
scriptural,  scholarly,  popular  and  devoted  to  the  cause. 
Some  have  been  distinguished.  Spiritually  its  growth  has 
been  gradual,  healthful.  At  times,  revival  blessings ;  gener- 
ally in  a  way  quiet,  not  demonstrative.  It  has  always  had  in 
it  men  of  culture  and  professional  eminence.  It  has  sent  off 
members  to  form  at  least  seven  other  churches.  Here  was 
a  typical  Presbyterian  spirit  in  this  old  church  ;  with  its  love  of 
knowledge,  zeal  for  orthodoxy,  respect  for  the  Sabbath,  and 
faithful  maintenance  of  worship;  guarding  of  the  sacred  mar- 
riage tie,  early  instruction  of  the  children  in  the  doctrines  of 
the  word,  stability  in  government,  and  exemplary  oversight  of 
the  congregation  by  the  elders;  its   missionary  enterprise, 

158 


generosity  in  giving,  and  the  system  in  its  beneficence ;  while 
all  things  were  done  decently  and  in  order.  We  have 
spoken  thus  at  length  of  the  First  church  for  the  intrinsic 
interest  of  the  history  itself,  and  because  for  fifty-five  years 
its  history  was  the  history  of  Presbyterianism  in  Albany. 
Newly  located  in  the  best  portion  of  our  city,  in  her  new 
edifice,  a  monument  to  the  energy  and  self-sacrifice  of  her 
pastor,  the  Rev.  Walter  D.  Nicholas,  she  seems  to  have 
assured  her  future.  The  mother  of  us  all  has  renewed  her 
youth.     We  love  our  mother,  and  we  bid  her  hail. 

As  the  numbers  of  Presbyterians  so  increased  that  the  First 
church  could  not  accommodate  them  all,  the  Second  church 
was  organized  about  1813,  most  of  those  who  composed  it 
being  of  New  England  stock.  The  original  members  were 
forty-four.  The  first  twelve  years  were  marked  by  spiritual 
and  temporal  prosperity  under  Dr.  John  Chester,  a  man 
courdy,  evangelical,  sympathetic,  peculiarly  a  friend  of  the 
poor.  But  in  1827  his  health  failed.  After  sermon  he 
invited  the  congregation  to  sing  "Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul," 
in  which  his  voice  joined  with  the  voices  of  his  flock ;  then 
tendered  his  resignation.  With  generous  loyalty,  honorable 
to  him  and  them,  the  church  decUned  it ;  and  gave  him  leave 
of  absence  for  a  year,  an  illustration  of  Presbyterianism 
toward  a  noble  but  disabled  pastor.  But  soon  he  died,  and 
was  widely  mourned.  Among  the  distinguished  people 
wont  to  attend  his  ministry  was  the  statesman  De  Witt 
Clinton,  who  died  soon  after.  For  a  time  the  pulpit  was 
supplied  by  Dr.  Edward  N.  Kirk,  of  great  acceptance 
and  popularity.  In  1829  a  call  was  given  to  Dr.  Wm.  B. 
Sprague,  who  with  characteristic  delicacy  declined  to  accept 
it  until  he  had  preached  to  the  congregation  and  was  satisfied 
of  their  unanimity.  His  ministry  was  notable  for  its  dura- 
tion and  success.  A  pulpit  orator  of  commanding  stature, 
fine  creative  gifts,  graceful  flow  of  thought,  he  always  had  a 
gospel  message  suited  to  audience  and  occasion,  and  impres- 
sively delivered.  During  the  remodeling  of  their  own  edi- 
fice, the  congregation,  by  invitation  from  the  Third  church, 
occupied  their  place  of  worship  a  portion  of  each  Sabbath. 
But,  with  a  spirit  of  generous  courtesy,  on  returning  to  their 
own  sanctuary,  they  presented  to  the  Third  church  a  sum 
sufficient  to  entirely  pay  off  an  encumbrance  then  resting  upon 
the  latter.  In  January,  1868,  at  the  request  of  the  Spring 
Street  Mission  school,  the   Second  church   took   charge   of 


159 


that  mission.  A  committee  was  selected  to  rear  an  edifice. 
Chiefly  through  the  efforts  of  the  chairman,  Mr.  Albion 
Ransom,  Sprague  chapel  was  erected.  Somewhat  later  the 
mission  became  a  church,  with  a  pastor  of  its  own.  But 
after  a  fair  trial,  it  was  deemed  wiser  to  keep  it  up  simply  as 
a  mission  Sunday  school.  So  a  large,  efficient  school  has 
been  maintained  thereever  since.  Under  Dr.  Sprague  came 
repeated  seasons  of  revival,  with  constant  growth.  Thus  he 
went  in  and  out  before  Israel  forty  years.  In  1869,  rich  in 
honor,  he  retired,  and  his  church  gave  him  an  annuity  of 
$2,000  a  year  for  life.  Of  all  the  accomplished  men  who  have 
occupied  the  Presbyterian  pulpits  of  our  city,  he  was  the 
writer  of  most  celebrity.  His  published  works  are  many. 
His  successor,  Dr.  Anson  J.  Upson,  installed  in  1870,  a 
ripe  scholar  in  English  literature  and  an  experienced  teacher 
of  rhetoric  before  he  was  ordained,  became  by  seemingly 
easy  transition,  an  acceptable  pastor,  an  elegant  and  effect- 
ive preacher.  His  ministry  of  a  decade  was  strong  and 
successful,  and  he  left  behind  him  in  our  city  the  impression 
of  a  life  white  and  pure.  Then,  in  1881,  came  Dr.  James 
H.  Ecob,  who  both  as  preacher  and  temperance  worker  has 
shown  himself  brilliant  and  courageous — a  beloved  brother. 
The  Second  church  has  been  noted  for  the  sustained  ability 
of  its  ministry.  In  its  pews  have  always  been  many  of  its  most 
influential  citizens,  representing  the  best  families  of  the 
denomination.  Central  in  position,  its  sanctuary  is  the  most 
popularplace  for  union  meetings  of  the  Presbyterian  fold. 
To  apeculiar  extent  it  has  shown  spirit  of  hospitality  toward 
the  other  churches.  And,  though  very  conservative,  it  is- 
well  known  for  its  great  liberality  and  generous  public  spirit. 
The  Third  or  Clinton  Square  church  was  organized  in 
181 7,  when  to  form  it  a  number  of  members  from  the  First 
church  united  with  the  Associate  Reformed  church,  a 
society  traced  back  to  1796.  The  immediate  occasion  was 
the  desire  of  the  persons  who  composed  it  to  enjoy  the  min- 
istry of  the  Rev.  Hooper  Cumming.  After  preliminary  pro- 
ceedings through  committees,  all  of  whose  actions  were  to  be 
void  unless  Mr.  Cumming  could  be  secured,  the  new  church, 
amid  great  popular  interest,  was  ushered  into  life.  The 
man  most  prominent  in  it  seems  to  have  been  Hugh  Hum- 
phrey, through  a  period  of  nearly  fifty  years,  amid  many 
vicissitudes,  ever  proving  himself  its  fast  friend.  A  call  was 
given   to    Mr.  Cumming,  with  the  unprecedented  salary  of 

160 


$2,ooo  a  year.  Some  time  before,  he,  with  his  accompHshed 
wife,  had  been  viewing  the  Passaic  falls,  when  she  fell  and  met 
instantaneous  death — a  terrible  shock  to  the  husband  by  her 
side.  Before  he  was  installed  in  his  new  church  there  came 
charges  of  plagiarism,  hints  at  intemperance  and  falsehood 
— in  declaring  the  chancellor  of  the  State  had  compared  his 
manuscript  with  Toplady  and  acquitted  him  of  plagiarism. 
Presbyterian  trial  followed  with  intense  popular  excitement 
and  his  character  was  evidently  suffering.  When  he  came 
upon  the  stand  the  moderator,  Dr.  Nott,  declined  to  admin- 
ister the  oath  on  the  ground  that  he  was  insane.  Mr.  Gum- 
ming in  his  defence  showed  himself  to  be  a  highly-gifted,  cul- 
tivated man,  who  could  write  his  sermons  even  if  he  did  not. 
He  asked  to  be  immediately  installed,  but  in  vain,  for  some 
of  his  oldest  friends,  among  them  his  own  father,  while  pro- 
ducing proof  of  the  former  correctness  of  his  character, 
splendor  of  his  abilities  and  loveliness  of  his  diposition,  took 
the  ground  that  he  had  now,  through  the  death  of  his  wife, 
become  partially  deranged  and  needed  the  balm  of  sympathy 
rather  than  the  rod  of  dicipline.  Their  views  prevailed. 
He  was  allowed  to  withdraw  from  further  connection  with 
the  Presbyterian.  The  Third  church,  at  its  own  request, 
also  was  dismissed  ;  whereupon  Mr.  Gumming  occupied  its 
pulpit.  His  preaching  attracted  increasing  numbers  of 
intelligent,  enthusiastic  hearers.  The  old  Bethel,  on  Mont- 
gomery street,  was  uniformly  thronged.  It  was  estimated 
that  1,500  persons  attached  themselves  to  his  congregation. 
His  popularity  lasted  with  little  diminution  for  six  years, 
during  which  two  hundred  and  seventeen  persons  joined  his 
church  on  confession  of  faith,  with  evidence  of  genuine  con- 
version But  his  genius  was  to  madness  near  allied.  That  his 
mind  was  unbalanced  became  unmistakable.  And  his  friends 
mournfully  declared  that  "  when  he  was  in  the  pulpit  it  seemed 
as  if  he  ought  never  to  come  out  of  it ;  and  when  out  as  if  he 
ought  never  to  go  in."  He  had  by  nature  great  endowments ; 
had  received  superb  education  ;  was  a  finished  orator  ;  pos- 
sessed delicate  susceptibility,  cultivated  in  the  most  refined 
circles.  But  the  shock  of  his  reason  was  followed  a  little  later 
by  loss  of  health  and  death.  His  church  waned.  It  was 
readmitted  to  Presbytery.  Next  followed  five  brief  pastorates. 
Then,  in  1837,  K.ev.  E.  A.  Huntington  was  installed.  In 
1844  the  new  house  of  worship  was  reared  on  Glinton 
square.     Of  refined  and  scholastic  tastes,  Ur.  Huntington 

161 


enjoyed  an  acceptable,  useful  pastorate  for  eighteen  years, 
then  was  called  to  a  professorship  at  Auburn  seminary,  which 
he  still  holds.  After  him  came  that  pupil  and  friend  of  Scot- 
land's illustrious  Dr.  Thomas  Chalmers,  Dr.  F.benezer  Halley, 
brilliant  in  the  pulpit  and  on  the  lecture  platform,  singularly 
gifted  in  prayer,  widely  read,  rich  in  scripture.  Of  his  noble 
traits  and  of  those  of  the  men  who  chose  him  for  their  pas- 
tor, sufficient  evidence  was  given  in  the  number  of  devoted 
friends  he  found  among  them,  whose  attachment  lasted 
through  his  life.  On  the  conclusion  of  the  fiftieth  year  of 
his  ministerial  labors,  his  friends  gave  him  a  memorable 
reception,  at  which  some  of  the  most  ])rominent  citizens  of  the 
State  were  present.  After  preaching  here  for  nearly  twenty- 
two  years,  he  retired  with  an  annuity  for  life,  receiving  also 
the  chaplaincy  of  the  State  senate,  which  he  retained  until 
his  death  in  i88r.  This  church  contains  many  Presbyterians 
of  Scotch  antecedents,  very  loyal  to  their  organization  and 
very  conservative,  as  shown  by  the  fact  thai  they  have  had 
but  three  pastors  for  a  half  a  century.  The  movement  of  the 
currents  of  population  away  from  the  north-east  part  of 
Albany,  renders  the  growth  of  churches  in  that  section  slow  ; 
but  the  Third  church  has  never  had  a  larger  membership 
than  for  two  years  past,  during  which  time  it  has  been  twice 
what  it  was  ten  years  ago. 

From  it  went  a  colony  to  fonn  the  West  End  church. 
April,  1869,  Rev.  Washington  Frothingham  started  in  the 
railroad  shop  at  West  Albany,  a  Sunday  school  of  eleven 
scholars,  preached  the  same  day  to  an  audience  of  twenty 
souls.  Elder  Austin  H.  Wells,  of  the  Clinton  Square  church, 
took  charge  of  this  school  for  eleven  years,  the  field  being 
largely  developed  as  a  mission  of  that  church.  His  success 
was  such  that  Mr.  William  Wendell  from  the  First  church, 
Mr.  Robert  G.  Wells  from  the  Second,  Mr.  Austin  H.  Wells 
himself,  and  Mr.  Archibald  McClure  from  the  State  Street 
church,  were  appointed  by  the  Presbyterian  Sunday  school 
Union,  a  committee  to  build  a  chapel.  This  they  did  at  a 
cost  of  $8,000,  raised  mostly  from  churches  which  they  repre- 
sented. In  1877  there  was  a  revival  with  encouraging  results. 
June  3d,  1878,  in  response  to  a  petition,  Presbytery  organized 
the  "West  End  church,"  with  forty-five  members,  most  of 
whom  came  in  one  strong  colony  from  the  church  on  Clinton 
square.  November,  1878,  Rev.  Robert  Ennis  became  pastor. 
During  his  diligent,  devoted  ministry  of  five  years  the  mem- 

162 


bership  grew  three-fold,  with  like  growth  in  the  school. 
March,  1884,  Rev.  Oliver  Hemstreet,  the  present  pastor,  was 
installed,  through  whose  efficient  labors  there  has  been  still 
furtherincrease.  This  church  is  composed  largely  of  men 
connected  with  the  New  York  Central  railroad,  superintend- 
ents, engineers,  skilled  mechanics,  men  trained  to  punctuality, 
reUable,  decided  in  their  convictions,  warmly  interested  in 
their  church.  Though  the  youngest  ofif-shoot  from  the 
Presbyterian  stock,  it  is  also  one  most  vigorous  and  the 
waves  of  population  pouring  toward  it  must  make  it  continu- 
ally stronger.  Already  a  larger  auditorium  is  required,  and 
the  chapel  is  to  be  enlarged  this  very  season.  We  speak 
briefly  of  the  younger  churches,  as  their  history,  in  each 
case  that  of  symmetrical,  speedy  growth,  needs  no  great 
detail. 

The  Fourth  church  was  organized  February  2,  1829,  with 
a  membership  of  tifty-five,  nearly  all  from  the  Second  church. 
The  first  pastor.  Dr.  E.  N.  Kirk,  was  long  remembered  for 
his  eloquence  and  the  beauty  of  his  Christian  character — a 
man  of  most  lovely  disposition  and  great  devotion  to  the 
Master.  The  congregation  worshipped  in  a  room  on  Lum- 
ber street,  then  in  the  chapel  of  the  First  Reformed,  hos- 
pitably offered  until  their  own  edifice  was  built  in  1830. 
From  the  first  the  church  had  large  accessions,  and  in  1833  it 
it  numbered  six  hundred  souls.  It  has  been  composed  of 
gentlemen  in  the  lumber  business,  or  other  commercial  pur- 
suits, substantia]  men  accustomed  to  work  and  give.  Of  its 
eight  pastors,  Dr.  Henry  Darting,  installed  in  1864,  and  re- 
maining seventeen  years,  was  probably  the  one  who  left  on 
it  the  most  marked  impress.  Indefatigable,  a  good  preacher, 
an  assiduous  pastor,  a  leading  ecclesiastic,  he  administered  its 
affairs  with  tact  and  power.  In  1865  its  growth  compelled 
the  erection  of  the  present  stately  edifice,  containing  many 
elements,  which,  under  other  hands,  would  have  tended  to 
disintegration  under  his  sway,  it  stood  strong  as  the  Old 
Guard  of  Napoleon,  its  influence  felt  in  all  the  general  reli- 
gious activity  of  our  city.  The  one  conspicuous  fact  of  its 
history  is  that  throughout  almost  its  entire  career  it  has 
enjoyed  steady,  striking  prosperity.  For  many  years,  till  the 
tides  of  population  flowing  westward  forbade  further  growth, 
the  Fourth  church,  claiming  a  membership  of  700,  a  Sunday 
school  roll  of  equal  size,  and  raising  over  $20,000  a  year, 
was  the  most  magnificent  Presbyterian  organization  in  our 

163 


city.     It  is  one  of  the  two  largest  churches  of  the  Presby- 
tery still. 

THE    SIXTH    CHURCH. 

From  the  Fourth  church  sprang  the  Sixth.  Elder  John 
S.  Smith,  of  the  Fourth  was  the  means  of  bringing  the  Sixth 
into  existence.  December  i,  1855,  he  started  a  prayer 
meeting  in  Lumber  street.  This  grew  into  a  Sunday  school 
then  was  organized  as  a  mission  enterprise.  In  1859  Mr. 
James  Hendrick,  with  a  large  corps  of  teachers,  from  the 
Fourth,  instituted  a  thorough  visitation  of  the  neighborhood, 
which  gave  the  work  a  lasting  impetus.  In  the  fall  of  1867 
at  an  enthusiastic  meeting  in  the  Fourth,  it  was  resolved  that 
the  time  for  a  church  organization  had  come.  Some  gentle- 
men pledged  themselves  for  $1,000  apiece  to  build  an  edi- 
fice. And  a  total  of  $25,000  was  raised  from  the  Fourth 
church  for  this  purpose.  December  31,  i860,  the  new 
church  was  formed  with  sixty-five  members,  most  of  them 
by  letter  from  the  Fourth.  The  first  pastor,  the  Rev.  A.  H. 
Dean,  was  prominently  instrumental  in  gaining  a  congrega- 
tion and  securing  the  erection  of  the  sanctuary — dedicated 
November,  1871.  Then  came  the  faithful  ministry  of  the 
Rev.  William  Durant,  installed  in  1873.  There  were  steady 
accessions  at  almost  every  communion ;  and  he  organized 
the  church  with  great  thoroughness,  equipping  it  for  every 
department  of  activity.  The  original  subscriptions  had  not 
covered  all  expense  of  building,  so  the  congregation  were  op- 
pressed with  debt.  By  diligent  solicitation  among  the  other 
Presbyterian  churches  of  the  city,  all  which  were  heartily 
sympathetic,  he  raised  the  whole,  about  $18,635,  and  almost 
the  entire  amount  was  paid  within  fifteen  days  after  the 
subscriptions  were  completed.  Had  he  done  nothing  else, 
this  alone  would  have  made  his  pastorate  to  be  remembered. 
Next,  in  December,  1882,  came  the  present  pastor,  the 
Rev.  John  D.  Countermine,  whose  ministry  has  been 
marked  by  energetic,  successful  efforts  to  preach  the  gospel 
in  attractive  ways,  so  men  may  be  drawn  to  the  house  of 
God.  Church  and  school  have  both  increased.  As  this 
field  is  largely  unoccupied  by  other  evangelical  churches, 
its  sky  is  full  of  promise. 

GROWTH    OF    THE    STATE    STREET    CHURCH. 

The  State  Street  church  grew  out  of  a  meeting  held  in  the 
Second   church,  November  5,  1859.     As  a  result  of  which, 

164 


a  little  later,  the  First,  Second  and  Clinton  Square  churches 
appointed  each  three  members,  making  a  committee  of  nine, 
to  consider  the  expediency  of  building  still  another  Presby- 
terian church.  They  reported  that  the  Ninth  and  Tenth 
wards  of  the  city  contained  about  18,500  souls,  to  accom- 
modate whom  there  were  church  sittings  for  only  about 
1,900  persons,  and  recommended  the  erection  of  an  edifice 
capable  of  seating  at  least  1,000  persons,  with  suitable  rooms 
for  Sunday  schools  and  social  worship.  A  committee  of 
fifteen  carried  these  recommendations  into  effect ;  secured 
a  lot  and  built  the  present  edifice.  The  first  service  of  the 
new  society  was  held  in  the  German  Lutheran  church  on 
State  street,  now  the  Albany  law  school.  Sermon  by  Dr. 
Sprague,  "  Despise  not  the  day  of  small  things."  Services 
were  continued  Sabbath  evenings,  until  the  Sunday  school 
room  in  the  new  church  could  be  occupied.  March,  1861, 
the  ecclesiastical  organization  was  effected  with  forty- two 
members,  nearly  all  from  the  Second  church,  a  few  from  the 
First  and  Third.  The  first  sacrament  was  administered  by 
Dr.  Joseph  T.   Duryea,     The   corner-stone  was  laid  July, 

1861,  Dr.  Halley  making  the  address.  During  the  five 
years'  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  A.  S.  Twombley,  installed  June, 

1862,  and  the  three  years'  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  George  C. 
Heckman,  installed  November,  1867,  the  church  grew  strong. 
Its  Sunday  school  was  also  vigorous.  Then  from  June, 
1 87 1,  it  had  six  flourishing  years  under  the  Rev.  John  James, 
D.  D.,  a  man  of  Scotch  birth  and  breeding,  positive  char- 
acter, decided  influence  in  many  ways.  An  able  preacher,  he 
did  good  work  for  Christ.  In  June,  1877,  was  installed  the 
present  pastor,  who  had  received  the  highest  recognition 
from  the  Reformed  denomination  before  entering  the  Pres- 
byterian body.  The  record  of  his  fruitful  pastorate  needs 
no  rehearsal.  The  history  of  this  church  requires  few  words ; 
but  they  are  pleasant  to  utter  and  to  hear.  From  the  begin- 
ning, its  career  has  been  marked  by  spiritual  thrift,  energy,  in- 
creasing numbers,  abundance  of  financial  resources,  pros- 
perity of  every  kind  and  widening  waves  of  influence.  It  is 
the  strongest  evangeUcal  church  in  Albany.  Taken  as  a 
whole,  in  eHgibility  of  location,  splendor  and  commodiousness 
of  sanctuary,  its  pulpit,  its  membership  of  over  eight  hundred, 
its  school  of  nine  hundred,  the  completeness  of  its  organiza- 
tion, its  benefactions,  Presbyterianism  can  point  to  no  more 
thoroughly  representative  church  in  all  northern  New  York. 

165 


We  are  proud  of  the  State  Street  church.  Its  history  is 
brief;  but  its  future  shall  be  great.  This  is  a  family  reunion 
to-night.  We  may  speak  with  a  degree  of  freedom.  "  The 
Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  us,  whereof  we  are  glad." 
Of  the  men  connected  with  the  Presbyterian  churches  here 
in  Albany,  at  least  six  became  moderators  of  the  general 
assembly. 

Of  the  First  church,  three  successive  pastors  attained  this 
honor,  Drs.  Nott,  Romeyn,  Neill.  The  Second  church  sent 
Dr.  Chester.  Dr.  McCauley,  who  went  from  the  Third 
church  to  the  ministry,  was  likewise  honored.  From  the 
Fourth  church  went  Dr.  Darling.  We  have  had  forty-three 
pastors  or  stated  supplies,  their  average  length  of  service 
being  nearly  eight  years  and  five  months.  They  were  men 
as  ready  for  intellectual  strife,  if  needful  to  defend  the  truth, 
as  any  in  the  ages  dead.  At  our  altars  the  line  of  priests 
and  Levites  has  not  failed.  And  the  roll  of  our  ministry 
has  contained  many  distinguished  names.  Omitting  details 
of  the  status  of  each  church,  as  these  may  be  gathered  from 
the  assembly's  minutes,  accessible  in  every  pastor's  study, 
we  note  in  general  that  in  1885  we  received  on  confession 
158  souls,  enough  to  make  quite  a  church  themselves.  Our 
total  of  communicants  is  3,200  ;  Sunday  school  membership, 
3,300.  Our  church  properties  aggregate  in  value  not  less 
than  $575,000.  In  1885  we  raised,  for  congregational  ex- 
penses, $96,837;  for  beneficence,  $36,172  ;  total,  $133,01 1. 
We  are  raising  money  at  the  rate  of  over  $1,000,0000  every 
eight  years.  We  have  contributed  to  every  important  char- 
itable movement  in  the  community.  We  have  aided  in 
sending  the  gospel  to  almost  every  land  on  earth. 

How  many  of  our  laymen  are  noted  for  their  benificence  ? 
It  is  a  Presbyterian  who  now  gives  $50,000  to  put  up  a 
building  for  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  who,  a  Uttle  while  ago, 
just  north  of  our  city  limits,  built  a  church  worth  $125,000. 
Upon  our  rolls  stand  names  of  men  who  have  been  privi- 
leged to  give  gold  by  handfuls  to  the  cause  of  Christ. 
We  cannot  begin  to  mention  them.  Our  Christian  women 
are  as  ministering  spirits,  and  the  development  of  their  activ- 
ity and  beneficence  is  one  of  the  proudest  fruits  of  Presby- 
terianism.  Our  body  has  sent  out  theological  professors, 
college  presidents  and  professors,  editors,  authors,  pastors, 
missionaries  many.  The  history  of  God's  people  is  a  history 
of  struggles  ;  but  with  us  the  struggles  have  been  triumphant. 

166 


Our  churches,  from  feeble  beginnings  have  grown  powerful, 
reached  the  sacred  number  seven.  We  are  surpassed  by  no 
other  evangelical  body  of  this  city  in  number  and  in  strength. 
Throughout  the  entire  fabric  of  Albany's  existence  for  a 
century  and  a  quarter,  Presbyterian  ism  has  been  interwoven 
in  strands  of  silver  and  gold.  It  is  the  patron  of  letters, 
friend  of  order  and  good  government,  teacher  of  philan- 
trophy.  To  our  sister  denominations  of  evangelical  faith, 
who  by  our  side  have  labored  for  like  high  ends,  we  offer 
Christian  greeting  and  congratulate  them  upon  their  pros- 
perity. Their  speech  is  the  speech  of  Canaan  ;  they  too  are 
Sons  of  me  Covenant — our  brother  tribes  in  Israel.  "  How 
goodly  are  thy  tents,  O  Jacob  and  thy  tabernacles,  O  Israel! 
As  gardens  by  the  river's  side,  as  the  trees  of  lignaloes  which 
the  Lord  hath  planted,  as  the  cedar  trees  beside  the  waters  !  " 

What  spiritual  blessings  we  have  had  !  From  generation 
to  generation,  upon  the  cherub  faces  of  our  children  has 
fallen  the  dew  from  the  baptismal  font.  At  these  altars 
they  have  stood  in  youth  to  utter  the  sweet  vows  of  marriage, 
and  the  solemn  vows  which  consecrated  them  to  God.  In 
our  hearts  has  been  kindled  the  sacred  and  eternal  fire. 
How  many  hallowed  experiences  to  be  remembered  in 
eternity  !  How  many  beautiful  types  of  piety  have  by  trials 
been  developed  !  Through  varied  dicipline  that  smote  us 
sore,  but  wrought  only  for  our  good,  God's  providence 
flamed  o'erhead.  When  our  fathers  and  mothers  lay  a 
dying,  from  this  earthly  night  they  passed  up  through  the 
portals  of  the  dawn,  to  stand  in  the  noonday  radiance  above. 
O,  winged  years,  what  lessons  have  you  taught  us  of  the 
goodness  of  our  God  ! 

In  the  by  gone  centuries  many  a  worldly  enterprise  has  left 
no  sign.  The  parchment  on  which  the  Muse  of  History 
recorded  it  was  thrown  aside  to  perish.  But,  in  the  annals 
of  God's  church,  no  chapter  can  ever  die.  Of  some  years 
ir.  our  past  there  may  be  no  extended  record  here.  Nor  is 
there  record  of  life  in  an  eagle's  nest,  save  empty  shells. 
But  from  them  kingly  birds  have  flown  and  are  soaring 
round  the  sun.  So  in  those  years  immortal  spirits  went  up 
to  God.  On  the  eternal  scrolls  their  names  are  written  in 
letters  of  everlasting  fire.  Clothed  are  they  in  vestures  of 
light,  conquerers  and  crowned.  To  them  the  march  of 
time  brings  joy.  In  historic  Antwerp  you  sleep  neath  the 
shadow  of  the  cathedral  tower,  where  hang  nine  and  ninety 

167 


bells  in  perfect  chime.  As  the  quarter  hours  steal  away, 
these  bells  ring  out  in  music  that  grows  continually  more 
sweet.  At  the  first  quarter  it  is  beautiful,  at  the  second 
more  beauteous  yet ;  for  the  third  more  heavenly  still,  and 
when  the  hour  is  full  they  pour  out  most  celestial  strains  of 
all  to  give  it  coronation.  Above  the  deep  voices  of  the 
vast  bass  bells  the  silvery  singing  of  the  others  makes  ecstatic 
music  more  and  more  divine.  Holy  lesson  taught  by  that 
cathedral  chime  !  Joyous  lesson  to  note  the  flight  of  time, 
not  with  sorrow  but  dehght !  Thus  will  we  look  back  o'er 
the  years ;  for  the  ages  sing  of  God.  Thus  do  the  heavenly 
intelligences  mark  times'  flight ;  not  with  sadness,  but  in- 
creasing rapture.  Thus  let  us  mark  it  till  we  hear  the  waves 
beat  on  the  eternal  shore.  Then  forever  will  we  mark  it 
thus,  as  the  celestials  do,  in  yon  life  that  grows  deeper, 
broader,  without  end.  Bought  with  blood,  though  sinners 
once,  they  sin  no  more.  As  to  Jacob  fourteen  years  seemed 
a  few  days  for  his  love  to  Rachel,  so  to  them  centuries  are 
like  summer  days  for  their  love  to  Christ,  their  hearts  quiv- 
ering with  the  most  sublime  passion  possible  to  man — love 
for  the  God  who  made  him.  As  the  unwasting  cycles  fly, 
their  spirits  leap  with  rapture  that  ever  grows.  And  when 
all  the  memorials  of  this  week  of  pageants  have  passed  away, 
then  and  yonder  shall  be  seen  the  work  of  Presbyterianism 
in  our  city — its  monuments  no  bronze  tablets  along  our 
streets,  nor  impulse  to  art  and  letters,  nor  mighty  organiza- 
tion and  sumptuous  shrine,  but  hearts  that  are  stamped  with 
God's  signet  mark — the  image  of  Christ  forever. 

FIRST  METHODIST  CHURCH. 
At  the  First  Methodist  church  an  interesting  pro- 
gramme was  given  at  the  union  service  in  the  evening. 
The  church  was  handsomely  decorated  with  ever- 
greens and  flags,  and  the  music  was  exceptionally 
good.  Prayer  was  offered  by  Presiding  Elder  Gates, 
after  which  the  audience  had  the  pleasure  of  listening 
to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mark  Trafton,  of  Boston.  His 
remarks  were  extemporaneous  and  related  more  to 
the  foundation  and  elements  of  strength  within  the 
church.     Following  is  an  abstract  of  his  remarks: 

i68 


There  are  two  lines  of  thought  suggested  by  the  occasion, 
phenomenal  facts  and  philosophical  results.  When  Freeboi  n 
Garrettson  started  out  on  his  mission  he  could  not  see  the 
future.  If  he  could  have  lived  and  stood  before  the  audi- 
ence last  night,  and  seen  the  vast  sea  of  faces  he  would  have 
regarded  it  as  a  most  impossible  and  fantastic  dream.  Gar- 
rettson and  Jesse  Lee  started  out.  They  could  see  ahead 
of  them  almost  insurmountable  obstacles  in  their  way.  When 
Lee  walked  upon  the  famous  Boston  common,  the  people 
thought  him  crazy.  They  understood  nothing,  and  when 
Lee  kneeled  to  the  ground  and  prayed,  such  a  prayer  had 
never  gone  up  from  Boston  to  heaven  ;  and  when  he  took 
from  his  pocket  a  little  Bible,  Boston  heard  the  first  sermon 
that  generation  had  heard.  The  speaker  related  the  incident 
of  Lee's  horse  going  through  Harvard  ;  that  is,  the  students 
took  the  horse  through  one  door  and  out  the  other,  saying 
they  had  graduated  the  doctor's  horse.  Lee  preached  the  first 
Metliodist  sermon  in  Maine.  He  related  the  great  ability 
and  perseverance  of  the  Methodist  servants.  Wlien  the  body 
of  young  Methodists  entered  Massachusetts  they  found  the 
whole  territory  pre-empted.  They  thus  had  a  great  force 
to  contend  against.  They  found  the  whole  country  invested 
with  Calvinism.  Mr.  Trafton  is  evidently  a  weak  believer 
in  foreordination.  He  said,  in  connection  with  the  future 
of  Methodism  from  Lee's  point  of  view  that  it  was  certainly 
"  doomed  to  success."  The  question  arises,  what  was  the 
element  of  the  success  that  has  made  the  Methodist  church 
so  successful.  It  was  their  doctrine  to  repudiate  the  idea  of 
foreordination.  God  will  never  doom  a  few  people  to  hell 
forever  and  a  few  more  to  heaven.  There  was  the  doctrine 
of  regeneration.  Their  doctrines  were  what  made  the 
Methodist  church  the  success  it  has.  An  element  of  power 
within  the  church  is  its  sociality.  They  are  social,  agreeable, 
pleasant ;  there  is  not  that  hard  formality  that  was  found  in 
the  old  Puritan  church.  ^Extemporaneous  preaching  was 
another  important  element  of  success.  They  avoided  notes  ; 
they  took  from  their  pockets  a  little  Bible  and  preached 
directly  to  the  people.  The  idea  of  young  theological 
students  talking  from  notes.  Horace  Greeley  said  the 
Methodist  church  had  literally  sung  itself  into  existence. 
This  singing  is  another  strong  element.  Methodism  is  not 
a  conservative  system.  It  is  active,  alive  ;  was  begotten  by 
pluck  and  energy,  and  only  energy  and  grit  can  keep  it 

169 


alive.  The  movement  must  be  constant  and  onward.  With 
much  movement  the  Methodist  creed  will  continue  to  ad- 
vance and  finally  be  more  great  and  powerful  than  now. 

Immediately  following  the  close  of  Mr.  Trafton's 
remarks,  the  Rev.  Merritt  Hulburd,  of  New  York, 
spoke  as  follows : 

AN    AMERICAN    CHURCH. 

Having  kept  an  interested  eye  on  the  arrangements  of  this 
city  for  the  celebration  of  the  Bi-centennial  of  its  foundation, 
I  could  not  fail  to  see  the  strife  of  certain  denominations  for 
precedence  in  the  matter  of  recognition  which  they  should 
receive  on  this,  the  churches'  day.  In  this  contest  we,  as 
Methodists,  could  have  very  little  interest,  and  even  as 
Albanians  it  was  almost  a  matter  of  indifference,  since  we 
desire  the  recognition  of  the  fact  that  our  civilization  is 
Christian,  rather  than  that  it  should  be  used  to  bolster  a  sect 
or  increase  the  importance  of  some  local  body.  For  while 
it  is  unmistakably  true  that  we  can  never  have  too  much 
of  Christianity  in  the  State  in  its  legislation  and  administra- 
tion, we  have  a  right  to  look  with  suspicion  upon  any  attempt 
to  ally  the  State  by  legislation  or  administration  with  any 
ecclesiastical  body,  and  the  distinction  between  Christianity 
and  the  church  needs  to  be  kept  constantly  before  the  public 
mind ;  for  they  are  neither  identical  nor  conterminous. 
The  one  is  the  divine  life  in  the  world,  operating  on  human 
hearts  and  lives,  and  as  a  body  includes  all  who  accept  it 
and  in  whom  it  lives.  The  other  exists  under  various  forms 
and  is  of  human  invention,  existing  ostensibly  for  the  pro- 
pagation of  Christianity,  embodying  more  or  less  of  its  prin- 
ciples and  conforming  to  a  greater  or  less  degree  to  its  spirit 
and  teaching.  The  one  is  as  water  distilling  in  clouds,  fall- 
ing in  rain,  dimpling  in  lakes,  rolling  in  rivers  that  gladden 
as  they  flow,  rippling  in  rills  that  make  the  meadows  green, 
glittering  in  ice  fields,  heaving  in  the  mighty  ocean  that 
enisles  the  continents,  but  everywhere  is  one  ;  the  other  is 
the  distributing  reservoir,  in  which  man  would  catch  and 
detain  it,  or  direct  it  into  channels  of  his  own  choosing. 
The  one  is  eternal,  changeless,  indestructible,  universal ;  the 
otlier  grows  in  the  midst  of  and  is  modified  by  times  and 
cultivations,  and  with  them  may  give  place  to  others,  and 
like  them  shall  pass  away.     The  one  is  light,  resplendent 

170 


and  abundant ;  the  other  appears  as  windows,  sometimes 
transparent,  which  conduct  ;  sometimes  colored,  that  change 
and  distort,  and  sometimes  so  nearly  opaque  as  to  obstruct  it. 

Christianity,  broad,  blessed,  illuminating  and  uplifting  ;  to 
it  we  owe  the  liberties  we  enjoy,  and  the  institutions  of  which 
we  are  so  justly  proud.  Talk  of  putting  God  into  the  con- 
stitution ?  He  is  there  already,  and  there  to  stay.  His 
government  is  no  weak  confederacy,  seeking  recognition,  or 
the  compliment  of  His  name  on  a  debased  coin. 

The  nation  is  historically,  structurally,  organically  Christ- 
ian. The  materialistic  philosopher  who  undertakes  to  solve 
the  problems  of  history  by  isothermal  lines  and  the  use  of 
globes,  must  of  necessity  find  himself  at  loss  to  account  for 
the  perturbations  which  from  time  to  time  have  occurred  and 
the  eccentricities  in  his  historical  orbit. 

To  say,  in  one  line,  as  a  ncted  philosopher  has  done, 
"  the  instinctive  propensity  to  drunkenness  is  a  function  of 
lattitude  ;  "  and  in  another  that  "  the  soggy  and  brutalizing 
atmosphere  of  northern  Europe  has  been  counteracted  by 
its  type  of  rehgion  ;  while  the  smiling  lands  that  skirt  the 
Mediterranean,  under  bluest  skies  and  in  serenest  air,  have 
grown  an  inferior  civilization  under  other  influences,"  is  to 
expose  his  reasoning  to  ridicule,  and  to  undermine  his  own 
theory.  Without  the  Nile  and  its  periodical  inundations  of 
that  valley,  600  miles  in  length,  Kgypt  and  its  wondrous 
history  had  been  an  impossibility  ;  but  the  Nile  still  flows  as 
when  hundred-gated  Thebes  stood  in  her  grandeur,  or 
scholars  walked  the  obelisk-sentineled  courts  of  Heliopolis ; 
but  the  scholar  is  gone  and  the  glory  has  departed.  Brutal- 
ized and  degraded,  the  descendants  of  a  once  splendid  race 
cower  at  the  bases  of  the  pyramids,  and  the  "  sick  man  of 
Europe  "  holds  ignoble  sway  in  the  land.  With  climate  as 
favorable,  skies  as  propitious,  and  soil  as  fertile  as  when 
Rome,  seated  on  her  seven  hills,  and  from  "  her  throne  of 
beauty  ruled  the  world,"  there  now  the  Lazaroni  basks  in 
the  sun,  and  lazily  swallows  his  macaroni,  careless  of  to- 
morrow, and  indifferent  to  the  fact  that  Italy,  once  the  school- 
mistress, is  now  the  blockhead  of  the  nations. 

Empires  wax  and  wane,  not  as  soils  and  seasons  change, 
but  in  obedience  to  other  and  subtler  laws,  which  it  behoves 
nations  and  individuals  to  keep  in  mind.  He  who  would 
read  Divine  Providence  out  of  history,  finds  himself  con- 
fronted by  a  vast  range  of  unexplained  and,  by  him,  inex- 


171 


plicable  phenomena.  The  territory  of  this  continent  was  as 
providentially  reserved  as  was  Palestine  ;  and  the  people  to 
inhabit  and  give  character  to  its  civilization  were  as  truly 
"  chosen  in  affliction "  as  was  ancient  Israel.  A  Danish 
antiquarian  sets  up  the  claim  of  the  discovery  of  this  conti- 
nent by  adventurous  Norsemen  900  years  ago.  That  may 
be,  but  nothing  came  of  it,  and  the  world  did  not  come  to 
know  of  it.  But  the  sea  westward  of  Europe  and  Africa 
was  still  the  mare  tenebrosutn — the  dark  sea.  Columbus 
sailed  westward,  not  seeking  a  new  continent,  but  a  new 
route  to  India,  mistakenly  supposing  it  to  be  a  shorter  way. 
Discovered  in  1492,  why  was  it  so  long  before  it  was  colon- 
ized ?  The  pope  divided  the  new  world  between  two  of  his 
most  unscrupulous  vassals,  Spain  and  Portugal ;  but  the  one 
had  sought  to  crush  the  truth  by  the  inquisition,  and  the 
other  had  banished  the  Bible  and  those  who  read  it  from 
her  shores,  and  they  could  neither  of  them  enter  in.  France, 
gory-handed  from  the  slaughter  of  the  Huguenots,  would 
colonize  it.  But  how  ?  Let  the  squallor,  ignorance  and 
unthrift  in  the  province  of  Quebec,  contrasted  with  the 
thrift,  progressiveness  and  intelligence  of  that  of  Ottawa, 
under  the  same  government,  make  answer.  Protestant 
Holland  discovers  and  gives  name  to  the  most  beautiful 
river  of  the  western  world,  and  is  successful  in  laying  the 
foundations  of  the  commercial  metropolis  of  the  hemisphere 
and  sets  the  stakes  for  the  capitol  city  of  the  Empire  State. 
But  her  territory  was  too  narrow  and  her  population  too 
scanty  for  the  broad  lands  to  be  peopled,  and  so  England, 
populous,  enterprising,  brave,  tenacious  of  purpose  and 
ardent  in  the  love  of  liberty  is  sifted  to  plant  under  dark 
skies,  and  on  a  rocky  coast,  the  germs  of  a  nation  by  puritan 
and  pilgrim  ;  and  from  that  a  nation  born  in  the  cabin  of  the 
"  Mayflower,"  and  christened  in  a  prayer  meeting,  a  nation 
with  the  English  Bible  for  a  law  book,  and  the  charter  of  its 
liberties,  became  the  custodian  of  that  land  designed  by 
Providence  to  be  the  theatre  of  the  last  and  highest  develop- 
ment of  civilization.  Thus  this  nation  was  tutored  into  the 
establishment  of  the  great  principles  of  liberty  in  its  infant 
stage.  Instructed  to  reverence  for  God  as  the  moral  gov- 
ernor of  the  world,  by  the  puritan  independents  of  England; 
taught  religious  liberty  by  Roger  Williams  and  the  Baptists 
of  Rhode  Island,  regard  for  social  order  and  the  institutions 
of  religion  by  the   Dutch    Reformed   and  the    Protestant 


172 


Episcopalians  of  New  York,  with  the  Presbyterians  as  staunch 
defenders  of  the  day  and  word  of  God,  the  Quakers  stand- 
ing for  the  rights  of  man  in  Pennsylvania  and,  strange  to 
say,  the  Roman  Catholics  in  Maryland  for  charity  and  reli- 
gious toleration,  while  in  Delaware  and  the  Carolinas  the 
Huguenots  sought,  with  industry  and  patience,  the  establish- 
ment of  a  Christian  commonwealth.  But  the  times  change 
and  new  exigencies  arise.  All  these  denominations  have 
done  much,  each  in  its  own  way,  and  have  wrought  worthily 
and  well  upon  the  structure  of  civilization  and  progress  ;  but 
we  still  look  for  an  American  church  which  shall  demonstrate 
its  conspicuous  adaptation  to  the  condition  of  the  new 
nation.  Congregationalism  independency  shows  its  adapta- 
tion to  the  Massachusetts  colonies  and  still  continues  the 
dominant  sect  in  New  England,  her  town  meetings  with 
their  moderators  and  clerks,  are  the  adaptation  to  civil 
government  of  the  church  order.  But  she  can  do  nothing 
for  the  south  or  the  frontier,  and  even  the  adjoining  State 
of  New  York  proves  uncongenial.  There,  however,  the 
Dutch  church  is  the  conservator  of  public  morals  and  the 
custodian  of  religion,  while  the  consistory  of  the  college  of 
churches  is  imitated  in  the  board  of  supervisors.  Virginia, 
during  its  colonial  period,  had  for  its  model  the  English 
parish,  and  traces  of  that  government  may  still  be  discerned. 
But  when  these  colonies  become  a  free  and  independent 
nation,  federated  into  a  central  government,  what  denomi- 
nation shall  unify  the  religious  government  and  adapt 
it  to  the  new  environment  ?  What  shall  be  the  religion 
that  shall  bind  again  this  bundle  of  fasces  into  a  unit  ?  The 
church  must  be  created.  It  does  not  exist.  Each  existing 
organization  is  imported,  and  cannot  easily  be  altered  to  suit 
the  changed  relations.  A  new  organization,  mobile,  flexible, 
young,  conforming  to  its  environment,  must  appear.  As  runs 
the  Hebrew  parable,  "  When  the  tale  of  bricks  is  doubled 
Moses  always  appears."  So,  just  at  this  juncture  it  comes. 
As  a  spiritual  movement  it  has  been  abroad  in  the  land  for 
sixteen  years,  stirring  up  the  people  here  and  there.  Loose 
and  unorganized,  it  is  only  a  voice  crying  in  the  wilderness. 
It  is  a  force,  but  not  yet  harnessed  to  the  machinery  of  society. 
It  is  as  yet  only  a  man  on  horseback.  It  has  neither  set  up 
housekeeping  nor  set  up  a  carriage.  History,  it  had  none, 
and,  therefore,  lost  no  time  in  hunting  up  precedents;  its  theol- 
ogy, fluent  and  molten,  had  no  grooves  to  run  in,  and  there- 


173 


fore,  spread  quickly  over  the  land.  It  had  no  theological 
seminaries  and  therefore  was  not  divided  into  ''  schools  "  of 
thought.  It  had  "  no  language  but  a  cry  "  and  that  it  kept 
sounding  through  the  land  destitute  of  a  poHty,  it  was  free 
to  grow  one  indigenous  to  the  soil,  and  could  and  did 
simultaneously  with  the  republic  develop  a  life  which  was 
suited  to  its  home.  Far  removed  from  the  despotism  of  the 
prelacy  on  the  one  liand,  it  was  equally  so  from  the 
irresponsible  and  disintegrating  democracy  of  congregation- 
ahsm.  Without  the  cumbersome  conservatism  of  the  consis- 
tory, or  the  aristocratic  government  of  a  presbyterian  form, 
it  adopted  whatever  was  fittest  to  survive  of  each  and  all, 
it  rejected  whatever  would  hinder  its  progress,  and  became 
the  advance  guard  of  the  pioneer,  and  the  counsellor  of  the 
statesman.  With  a  centralization  of  power  equal  to  that  of 
Rome  it  could  send  its  life-blood  to  invigorate  the  extremi- 
ties of  the  continent,  while  continuing  ductile  and  flexible  as 
Congregationalism,  infringing  no  prerogative  of  the  State  it 
did  not  erect  an  "  imperium  in  imperio,"  nor  did  it  seek 
patronage  or  compromise  for  power.  Speaking  the  language 
of  the  people  and  knowing  their  wants  and  sorrows,  it  has 
written  heroic  chapters  of  history  in  each  decade  of  the  past 
of  America  and  proved  itself  a  "  helpmeet  "  indeed. 

Disciplined  as  carefully  and  drilled  as  thoroughly  as 
Jesuitism,  its  system  of  propagandism  reaches  as  far  as  that 
of  Loyola,  the  watch-fires  of  its  mission  stations  gleam  from 
the  Aroostook  to  Mount  Hood  and  are  reflected  from  the 
peaks  of  the  Hawaii  and  then  leaping  the  bounds  of  the 
hemisphere  it  has  advanced  upon  distant  shores,  and  now 
tells  the  story  of  the  cross  on  the  dark  continent  and  in  far 
Cathay.  Its  missionaries  tell  of  the  wonderful  works  of  God 
in  more  languages  than  pentecost,  and  it  has  enrolled  more 
converts  ten  tmies  over  in  this  country  than  the  Christian 
church  in  a  hundred  years  after  the  ascension  of  Our  Lord. 

Essentially  republican,  it  corresponds  most  strikingly  to 
the  government  of  the  nation,  its  bishops  to  the  executive, 
but  without  the  power  of  the  veto  in  legislation,  its  triers  of 
appeals  to  the  Supreme  Court,  the  general  conference  to 
congress,  annual  conference  to  state  governments,  districts 
to  county  organizations  and  the  quarterly  conference  to  the 
town  and  municiple  rule.  Thus  we  see  the  church  and  the 
State  growing  side  by  side  mutually  helpful,  both  having 
organic  relation. 


174 


But  again,  we  see  the  doctrinal  system  is  also  singularly 
adapted  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  nation.  "  With  a  theology 
that — as  Joseph  Cook  says — could  bepreached"  proclaiming 
the  universal  fatherhood  of  God  and  the  universal  brother- 
hood of  man,  it  was  the  mission  of  Methodism  to  declare  a 
free  salvation  in  a  free  land  in  opposition  to  the  theory  of  a 
limited  atonement  which  was  substantially  held  by  other 
denominations,  the  doctrine  of  the  witness  of  the  spirit 
stirred  to  the  depths  the  hearts  of  men  whose  notions  of 
religion  had  hitherto  been  oppressed  with  doubts  and 
fears,  and  its  converts  made  the  hills  and  valleys  ring  with 
their  new  found  joy.  Entire  sanctification  seemed  to  promise 
deliverance  from  the  power  as  well  as  the  guilt  of  their  sins. 

Such  was  the  church  which  sprang  into  existence  as  an 
organized  society  in  1784,  five  years  before  the  adoption 
of  the  federal  constitution,  and  not  one  moment  too  soon, 
either,  for  when  peace  was  declared,  the  nation,  number- 
ing about  five  millions,  was  burdened  with  an  enormous 
debt,  and  war  had  demoralized  the  people.  An  exotic 
infidelity,  imported  from  France,  was  loudly  proclaiming 
that  Christianity  was  hostile  to  human  freedom,  and  some 
of  the  leaders  of  the  people  imbibed  the  monstrous  doc- 
trine. Grateful  for  French  assistance  in  the  hour  of  the 
nation's  need,  French  ideas  were  popular,  and  •  the  pall  of 
atheism  seemed  to  be  about  setUing  uj^on  the  land.  Floods 
of  immigrants  poured  in,  not  now  bringing,  as  the  fathers 
did,  their  religious  organizations  with  them  ;  but  with  notions 
of  liberty  which  could  ill  brook  control.  The  American 
people  began  to  lose  that  homogeneity  of  character  which 
the  war  had  brought  them.  Lynch  law  usurped  the  place 
of  statute,  and  the  sparsely  settled  country  was  without 
schools  or  churches. 

How  was  it  that  this  land  did  not  find  itself  given  over  to 
the  horrors  of  anarchy  and  civil  war  ?  I  maintain  that  the 
answer  is  m  the  fact  that  there  then  began  a  great  religious 
movement  of  which  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  the 
most  prominent  agent  which  gave  to  the  State  at  its  formative 
period  a  moral  and  spiritual  direction,  and  which  impressed 
itself  upon  the  laws  and  institutions  of  the  land,  the  image  of 
the  heavenly.  It  has  been  sometimes  captiously  said  that  the 
Methodist  church  did  not  figure  very  creditably  in  the 
revolution.  This  may  easily  be  so,  since  the  church  was 
not  organized   till  after  the  war  had  closed,  and  the  revival, 


which  had  already  begun,  was  manned  entirely  by  preachers 
imported  from  England,  the  second  one  of  whom  was  Capt. 
Thomas  Webb,  an  officer  of  the  British  army. 

The  others  sent  out  by  Mr,  Wesley  were  held  by  their 
ideas  of  loyalty  to  the  home  government,  and  remained 
neutral,  or  returned  to  await  the  issue.  At  the  same  time  it 
is  true  that  the  sympathies  of  a  majority  of  the  English 
Wesleyans  was  with  the  colonists  in  their  struggle.  Indeed 
Mr.  Wesley  himself,  though  a  high  churchman  and  a  Tory, 
immediately  after  the  news  of  the  battle  of  Lexington  had 
reached  England,  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth, 
in  which  he  says :  "  I  cannot  avoid  thinking  that  these 
colonists  ask  for  nothing  more  than  their  legal  rights,  and 
that  in  the  most  modest  and  inoffensive  manner  that  the 
subject  would  admit  of."  True  is  it  also  that  the  new  church 
was  the  first  to  insert  in  its  constitutional  law  a  recognition  of 
the  new  government,  and  to  enjoin  loyalty  and  patriotism 
as  rehgious  duties  upon  its  communicants.  Then,  on  the 
adoption  of  the  federal  union,  in  place  of  the  "Articles  of 
Confederation,"  the  general  conference  immediately  substi- 
tuted "  The  Constitution  "  in  place  of  the  articles  referred 
to,  and  that  in  the  face  of  the  "  State  rights"  doctrine  then 
so  rife,  and  it  then  proceeded  unequivocally  to  declare  that 
said  states  are  and  of  right  ought  to  be  a  sovereign  and 
independent  nation. 

Bishops  Asbury  and  Coke  were  the  first  accredited  repre- 
sentatives to  present  from  any  church  an  address  to  President 
Washington,  assuring  him  of  the  sympathy  and  prayers  of 
their  people  with  and  for  him  in  his  administration ;  and  a 
Methodist  conference — the  New  York — was  the  first  religious 
body  to  pledge  its  support  to  the  general  government  after 
the  assault  on  Fort  Sumter,  and  by  a  happy  coincidence,  the 
same  conference  being  then  in  session,  telegraphed  its  con- 
gratulations to  President  Lincoln  after  the  fall  of  Richmond 
and  the  surrender  of  Lee.  There  are  statistics  to  prove  that 
the  Methodist  church  contributed  175,000  soldiers  to  the 
army  of  the  Union,  and  of  it  President  Lincoln  fitly  said  : 
"  Nobly  served  as  the  government  has  been  by  all  the 
churches,  I  would  utter  nothing  which  might  appear  invi- 
dious against  any,  but  it  is  not  the  fault  of  the  others  that 
the  Methodist  church,  by  her  greater  numbers,  sends  more 
soldiers  to  the  field,  more  nurses  to  the  hospital  and  more 
prayers  to  heaven  than  any  other.     God  bless  the  Methodist 

176 


church.  God  bless  all  the  churches,  and  blessed  be  God, 
who,  in  this  our  great  trial,  giveth  us  the  churches."  Have 
I  not  a  right  then  to  affirm  of  it  that  it  is  pre-eminently  an 
American  church  ?  But  I  will  not  rest  the  case  on  ex  parte 
testimony.  I  will  impannel  a  jury  of  reputable  citizens,  not 
one  of  whom  shall  be  a  Methodist,  and  hear  their  testimony. 
George  Bancroft:  "The  Methodists  were  the  pioneers  of 
religion  ;  the  breath  of  liberty  has  wafted  their  messages  to 
the  masses  of  the  people,  encouraged  them  to  collect  white 
and  black  in  church  or  greenwood,  for  counsel  in  divine 
love  and  the  full  assurance  of  faith,  and  carried  their  con- 
solations and  songs  and  prayers  to  the  farthest  cabins  of  the 
wilderness."  Dr.  Tyng  said  in  London :  "  I  come  from  a 
land  where  you  might  as  well  forget  the  tall  oaks  that  tower 
in  our  forests,  the  glorious  capitol  we  have  erected  in  the 
centre  of  our  hills,  or  the  principles  of  truth  and  liberty  we 
endeavor  to  disseminate,  as  to  forget  the  influence  of 
Methodism  and  the  benefit  we  have  received  therefrom." 

Dr.  Baird  calls  it  "  the  most  powerful  element  in  the  reli- 
gious prosperity  of  the  United  States."  Dr.  Channing  said 
*'  the  influence  of  Methodism  in  liberalizing  the  theology  of 
New  England  is  beyond  all  estimate." 

These  citations  might  be  multiplied  indefinitely,  but 
enough  has  been  given  to  prove  my  statement,  and  I  claim 
the  case. 

Do  you  still  ask  what  place  Methodism  has  in  this  Bi- 
centennial ?  I  answer  that  though  Gov.  Dongan  knew  us 
not  and,  staunch  Romanist  that  he  was,  I  have  no  doubt 
he  would  have  thought  himself  and  the  city  better  off  with- 
out us,  and  though  Mayor  Schuyler  died  without  witnessing 
the  advent  of  these  "  men  who  have  turned  the  world  upside 
down,"  and,  Protestant  though  he  was,  he  would  have  been 
scarcely  less  dismayed  at  the  sight  of  the  broad-brimmed  hats 
and  shad-bellied  coats  of  these  "  pesky  parsons ; "  and  though 
more  than  one  hundred  years  of  her  history  passed  without 
the  Methodist  church,  still  do  not  beHeve  Albany  could  afford 
to  lose  out  of  her  history  the  service  rendered  by  that  denom- 
ination. Bishop  Asbury  said  that  the  region  of  Albany  did 
not  seem  congenial,  but  times  have  changed  since  that  day, 
and  many  of  his  successors  have  found  Albany  a  most  kindly 
home.  Freeborn  Garrettson  was  the  pioneer  in  this  region 
and  had  cause  to  remember  his  reception  in  Albany,  for 
when  he  was  entertained  by   a  gentleman  he  saw  deadly 

177 


hostility  in  the  face  of  the  hostess,  and  under  a  strong  im- 
pression of  danger  he  did  not  drink  the  small  beer  which  she 
tendered  him,  nor  would  he  eat  in  the  house.  The  next 
day  he  learned  that  the  husband  and  son  of  the  woman  had 
been  poisoned  nearly  to  death  by  eating  the  meat  which  this 
hospitable  woman  had  prepared  for  him.  She  afterward 
said  that  if  she  could  have  had  her  way  there  would  not  have 
been  a  Methodist  left.  Now,  however,  clergy  and  laity  find 
themselves  cordially  welcomed  who  would  go  from  us  to 
other  denominations,  and  men  and  women  converted  at  our 
altars  are  in  every  communion,  and  the  pastor  of  one  of  the 
most  popular  churches  told  me  once  that  his  most  efficient 
members  were  those  he  had  received  from  us. 

I  congratulate  you  on  the  fact  that  our  church  is  now 
housed  in  Albany  in  a  manner  befitting  the  station  she  is 
called  to  occupy  ;  that  the  time  when  anything  would  do  for 
a  Methodist  church  has  forever  passed.  The  mission  of 
Methodism  to  the  masses  was  once  a  popular  theme  and 
was  patronizingly  conceded  to  us  by  the  other  denomina- 
tions, but  this  was  a  misapprehension.  Methodism  began 
socially  at  the  top  and  was  at  home  among  the  learned 
and  noble,  but  has  proved  herself  worthy  of  her  Divine  Lord 
by  reaching  down  to  the  lowest,  by  disintegrating  the  masses 
and  lifting  the  individual  to  the  level  of  the  heavenly.  Her 
mission !   it  is  to  every  one ;   her  field  !   it  is  the  world. 

FIRST    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

In  the  First  Lutheran  church  in  the  morning,  the 
congregation  was  very  large.  The  decorations  about 
the  pulpit,  while  not  of  an  elaborate  character,  were, 
nevertheless  very  handsome.  The  front  of  the  pulpit 
platform  and  the  standards  at  the  ends  were  effect- 
ively draped  with  orange  and  blue  colors,  and  at  the 
summits  of  the  standards,  palms  waved  their  graceful 
branches.  Immediately  in  front  of  the  pulpit  an 
elegant  floral  shield,  with  suitable  inscriptions,  rested 
on  an  easel. 

The  Rev.  George  W.  Miller  preached  a  discourse 
entitled  "A  Retrospect  of  Two  Centuries,"  from  the 

178 


text,  "  Remember  the  days  of  old,  consider  the  years 
of  many  generations." — Deut.  xxxii.,  7. 

Macaulay  says  :  "  To  write  history,  that  is,  seemingly,  the 
easiest  of  all  compositions,  is  on  the  contrary  the  most  diffi- 
cult. History  is  philosophy,  teaching  by  example,  though 
unhappily  what  the  philosophy  gains  in  soundness  and 
depth,  the  examples  generally  lose  in  vividness.  A  perfect 
historian  must  possess  an  imagination  sufficiently  powerful  to 
make  his  narrative  affecting  and  picturesque,  yet  he  must 
control  it  absolutely,  contenting  himself  with  the  materials 
which  he  finds."  Recognizing  this,  I  purpose  using  the 
greatest  care  and  caution  in  speaking  of  our  Albany  church. 
Could  history  truthfully  picture  the  past,  our  eyes  would  see 
some  strange  scenes  connected  with  this  venerable  organiza- 
tion. The  history  of  the  Albany  First  Lutheran  church  has 
special  interest  because  it  is  the  oldest  continued  organiza- 
tion in  the  denomination  in  America,  the  church  in  New 
Amsterdam,  now  New  York  city,  having  lost  its  identity, 
when  in  1783  Trinity  and  Christ's  church,  or  "  The  old 
Swamp  church,"  united.  The  first  I^utheran  settlement  in 
this  country  was  made  in  New  Amsterdam  in  1623,  and 
came  from  Holland.  The  second  distinct  body  of  Lutherans 
came  from  Sweden  in  1636,  settled  on  Delaware  bay  and 
bought  land  of  the  Indians,  the  place  now  being  Wilming- 
ton, Delaware.  They  brought  a  pastor  with  them,  and  these 
Swedes  were  the  first  Lutherans  organized  under  the  care  of 
a  pastor.  Later,  owing  to  a  lack  of  I^nghsh  speaking  min- 
isters, they  became  Episcopalians,  thus  leaving  the  New 
York  churches  the  priority  as  continued  Lutheran  organiza- 
tions. Moreover,  Albany  is  the  oldest  surviving  city  of  the 
original  thirteen  colonies.  At  Albany  the  voice  of  Benja- 
min Franklin  was  heard  in  convention  advising  the  measures 
afterwards  incorporated  into  our  Federal  constitution.  In 
Albany  assembled  the  first  convention  for  the  union  of  the 
colonies.  Henry  Hudson,  in  the  yacht  Half  Moon,  moored 
in  September,  1609,  at  a  point  which  is  now  in  Broadway. 
This  place  was  called  by  the  Dutch,  New  Orange  originally, 
afterwards  Beverswycke,  and  then  later  when  taken  posses- 
sion of  by  the  EngHsh  in  1664,  Albany,  in  honor  of  an 
English  duke. 


179 


EARLY    IMMIGRATION    OF    LUTHERANS. 

The  principles  of  the  reformation  had  been  carried  to 
Holland,  and  strong  churches  were  organized,  soon  after 
Luther's  work.  Thus,  before  America  was  known  as  a  land 
of  refuge  Protestants  had  setded  in  various  lands,  and  some 
had  sought  our  shores.  Of  these  Lutheran  churches  in 
Holland  the  strongest  was  in  Amsterdam,  and  it  became  the 
foster  mother  of  the  New  Amsterdam  Dutch  Lutheran 
congregation.  There  had  been  a  fierce  controversy  in 
Holland  over  Calvinism  and  Arminianism,  and  afterwards 
intolerance  was  manifested  toward  Lutherans.  Hence, 
these  Dutch  Lutherans  emigrated  from  Germany  to  Holland, 
and  from  Holland  to  America.  This  establishment  of 
Lutherans  was  effected  here  a  little  more  than  a  century  after 
the  discovery  of  America,  and  within  a  few  years  of  the 
landing  of  the  Pilgrims ;  and  while  the  Thirty  Years  War 
was  raging  in  Germany  that  threatened  to  exterminate 
Protestantism  from  Europe.  Thus  are  we  led  to  see  God's 
peculiar  providence  in  sending  those  whom  God's  word  and 
spirit  had  made  free  into  this  new  world.  We  call  attention 
to  history  respecting  the  Albany  church.  | 

PERSECUTIONS  "aND    TRIBULATIONS. 

Brodhead's  hi.story  of  the  State  of  New  York  says :  "  The 
Lutherans,  in  1653,  are  strong  enough  to  support  their  own 
pastor."  In  Callaghan's  history  it  is  stated  that  a  placard 
had  been  published  in  1656  against  the  congregation  of 
Lutherans  at  Beverswycke  (i.  e.  Albany).  At  this  time  the 
Lutherans  were  much  opposed  and  oppressed  by  the  Dutch 
Reformed  church  people.  They  were  taxed  to  support  that 
church,  compelled  to  assent  to  its  creed  if  they  had  their 
children  baptized,  and  strenuous  effort  was  made  to  compel 
the  Lutherans  to  identify  themselves  with  the  Dutch  church. 
But  they  strenuously  resisted,  and  petitioned  for  a  minister 
of  their  own.  In  1657  the  Rev.  John  fLrnest  Goetwater 
arrived  in  the  ship  jMill,  June  6,  to  serve  two  congregations, 
one  at  New  Amsterdam  and  one  at  Beverswycke ;  but  he 
was  ordered  to  return  by  the  same  ship,  and  though  sickness 
prevented  his  immediate  compliance,  he  was  put  without  the 
walls  of  the  city,  and  finally  forced  to  re-embark  for  Holland. 
The  Lutheians  were  di.sposed,  however,  to  push  forward 
with  a  hard   Lutheran  pate,  Brodhead,  the  historian,  says; 

180 


and  in  1660  they  promoted  a  subscription  for  a  clergyman 
of  their  own.  In  1664,  however,  the  Lutheran  congregation 
was  in  an  organized  condition.  There  cords  are  most  meagre. 
These  old  Dutch  worthies  were  modest  and  economical  in 
record-making.  Besides,  their  descendants  have  been  crimin- 
ally careless  about  preserving  what  records  they  made.  The 
Rev.  P.  A.  Strobel,  in  an  article  in  the  Hartwick  memorial 
volume  respecting  St.  Paul's  church,  West  Camp,  Ulster 
county,  N.  Y.,  mentions  an  incident  illustrating  this.  Their 
church  was  organized  by  the  Rev.  J  oshua  Kocherthall  in  1 7 1 1 . 
Some  years  since,  the  members  of  that  church  wishing  to  get 
rid  of  some  old  papers,  it  was  resolved  to  make  a  bonfire  of 
them.  The  Albany  church  was  first  built  on  Pearl  street, 
between  Lutheran  (now  Howard)  and  Beaver  streets,  facing 
Pearl.  This  church  was  standing  in  1674.  In  Mr.  Munsell's 
Annals  we  read  :  "  The  Lutherans  seem  to  have  succeeded 
in  gathering  a  congregation  before  1670.  It  is  supposed 
that  about  this  time  they  erected  a  church  and  parsonage, 
the  first  and  last  penny  for  these  being  paid."  And  from 
the  same  source,  speaking  of  1795,  we  read:  "There  is  in 
Albany  a  Dutch  Lutheran  church  of  a  Gothic  and  very 
peculiar  shape."  This  was  at  least  their  second  edifice,  for 
we  know  that  that  was  constructed  only  about  ten  years 
previous,  and  in  it  the  second  synod  in  America  was  organ- 
ized in  1786.  While  the  Bi-centennial  History  of  Albany 
and  Schenectady  counties  says  :  "The  first  Lutheran  church 
was  built  1668  or  1670,  on  Pearl  street,  the  present  site  of 
the  city  building.  The  Episcopalians  worshiped  in  this 
building  part  of  the  day,  in  17 14."  In  1784  the  society 
was  incorporated.  The  edifice  preceding  the  present  fine 
and  imposing  one  was  erected  during  the  pastorate  of 
the  Rev.  F.  G.  Mayer,  on  the  present  site,  the  city  having 
purchased  the  lot  on  Pearl  street,  that  had  been  in  the 
possession  of  the  congregation  almost  a  century  and  a 
half,  the  present  site  being  doubly  historic,  for  here  stood 
"  the  old  colonial  army  hospital."  In  it  were  gathered  men 
who  suffered  for  their  country,  and  if  patriotism  be  only 
second  to  piety,  it  was  early  consecrated  by  their  sufierings. 
While,  as  if  to  show  the  fluctuations  of  time  and  circum- 
stances on  this  same  spot,  in  a  hospital  room  in  1769,  there 
was  fitted  up  Albany's  first  theatre,  a  comedy  company  from 
New  York  introducing  the  drama.  To  this  historic  spot 
hence  have  come  those  who  suffered  the  ills  and  mishaps  of 

181 


war.  Here,  in  pain,  has  been  paid,  in  part,  the  price  of 
liberty.  Here,  on  cots,  have  lain  loyal,  patriotic  sons. 
Here  brave  men  have  died.  Here  have  been  experienced 
the  horrid  results  of  war.  This  has  marked  one  era. 
While,  as  if  to  relieve  the  tedium,  these  very  soldiers  seem 
to  have  inaugurated  the  reverse  of  this,  in  comedy.  Nor 
was  it  without  opposition ;  but,  succeeding  slow  suffering, 
and  then  mirth-making,  has  come  the  work  of  ministering  to 
sad  and  glad.  And  for  seventy  years  Christ's  church,  in 
loyalty  to  truth,  has  crowned  this  spot. 

A    WORD    ABOUT     THE    PASTORS. 

For  2i6  or  217  years,  on  two  spots  in  Albany,  the  gospel 
of  God's  grace  has  been  administered  according  to  our 
usages.  A  hurried  glance  at  the  men  who  ministered  at 
these  altars  may  not  be  amiss.  In  1668  the  Rev.  Jacob 
Fabritius  became  the  first  pastor,  serving  the  New  York  and 
Albany  churches.  He  was  impulsive  and  rash,  though 
learned  and  able,  and  soon  left.  In  1671  the  Rev.  Bernar- 
dus  Arensius  assumed  the  work.  In  1703  Justus  Falckner, 
the  first  Lutheran  minister  ordained  in  America,  was  settled, 
preaching  at  Loonensburg  (now  Athens)  and  Albany.  He 
died  in  1723,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Wm.  Christo- 
pher Berkenmeyer,  an  able,  devout  man,  who  preached  until 
his  death  at  Athens,  and  under  that  church  he  lies  buried. 
The  Revs.  Michael  Christian  Knoll,  Henry  Moeller,  Schwerd- 
feger,  A.  T.  Braun,  Groetz,  John  Frederick  Ernst,  and 
Henry  Moeller  successively  served  until  1806.  The  services 
remained  German  until  1808.  In  1807  the  Rev.  Frederick 
G.  Mayer  assumed  the  work  as  his  first  and  last  pastorate, 
remaining  thirty-seven  years.  He  was  short  in  stature,  stout 
in  person,  calm  in  manner,  and  an  ex  tempore  speaker.  The 
first  sacred  musical  concert  given  in  Albany  was  at  his 
suggestion.  In  1843  *^he  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  N.  Pohlman 
assumed  the  duties  of  the  oflice,  and  for  twenty-three  years,  in 
a  devoted  and  dignified  manner,  discharged  its  trust,  Dr. 
Pohlman  being  the  leader  of  the  Lutheran  hosts  of  New 
York  during  many  years  of  his  life.  Since  then,  the  Rev. 
Drs.  S,  P.  Sprecher  and  I.  Magee,  and  your  speaker  have 
ministered. 

THE  PROGRESS  OF  THE  DENOMINATION. 

New  York  has  not  proven  as  fertile  soil  for  Lutheranism 
as   have  other  stales.     In   1870  more  than  a   third  of  all 

182 


Lutherans  in  the  United  States  were  reported  in  Pennsylva- 
nia and  Ohio,  and  nearly  five  times  as  many  churches  in 
Pennsylvania  as  New  York ;  that  but  three  synods  have 
developed  in  loo  years  since  the  New  York  ministerium  was 
organized  in  the  Albany  church,  while  from  the  Maryland 
and  Virginia  synod,  organized  in  1820,  twelve  synods  have 
S[)rung,  and  the  ministerium  of  Pennsylvania,  organized  in 
1748,  has  88,596  communicants,  while  the  ministerium  of 
New  York,  organized  1786,  has  but  25,930.  Peculiar 
circumstances  produce  this,  just  as  the  number  of  Presby- 
terians is  not  great  in  New  England  nor  are  the  Congrega- 
tionalists  strong  in  New  York,  while  one-half  of  the 
Congregationalists  in  the  United  States  in  1870  were  in 
New  ELngland.  There  are  four  Lutheran  congregations  in 
Albany:  St.  Paul's  German  church,  organized  1842,  Rev. 
G.  F.  Stutz,  pastor ;  First  German  Evangelical  ^Lutheran 
church,  organized  in  1854,  William  A.  Frey,  pastor ;  St. 
John's  German  P^vangelical  Lutheran  church,  organized  in 
1858,  Rev.  Ernst  Hoffman,  pastor,  and  Trinity  German 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church,  organized  i860.  The  relation 
of  the  Albany  church  to  Lutheranism  in  the  State  has  been 
most  intimate.  Here  the  first  synod  in  New  York  and 
second  in  America  was  organized,  with  three  ministers  and 
two  laymen  present.  Here  Hartwick  seminary  originated, 
Dr.  Pohlman  being  its  first  graduate.  He  was  the  first 
student  of  our  first  theological  seminary.  With  the  Albany 
church  John  Christopher  Hartwick,  its  founder,  had  most 
intimate  relations,  and  his  remains  lie  under  its  lecture  room 
floor.  Li  the  Albany  church  occurred  the  separation  in  1867, 
after  the  formation  of  the  general  council,  and  in  the  church 
then  and  there  was  organized  the  New  York,  since  consoli- 
dated with  the  New  Jersey  synod. 

OTHER    RELATIONS. 

As  late  as  1747  there  were  but  eleven  ministers  in  all  the 
colonies,  and  in  1768  the  entire  clergy  showed  but  twenty- 
four  names.  To-day  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  church 
stands  third  in  the  list  numerically  among  denominations  in 
America,  numbering  893,000  communicants.  In  1775  the 
Lutherans  had  twenty-five  ministers  and  sixty  churches.  In 
1876  they  had  2,662  ministers,  4,623  churches,  and  did  we 
enumerate  all  baptized  persons  we  have  more  than  1,500,000 
Lutherans. 

183 


WHAT    THE    ORGANIZATION    HAS    WITNF:SSED. 

She  has  seen  government  twice  change  hands,  the  Dutch 
surrendering  to  the  English  and  the  English  in  turn  granting 
our  independence.  She  has  seen  the  population  of  the 
entire  country  grow  from  200,000  in  1688  to  over  50,000,000 
at  the  present  time.  She  has  sentinel-like,  watched  and  from 
her  patriotic  pulpit  heard  prayers  during  four  wars.  She  has 
seen  the  log  school  house,  with  puncheon  floor,  slab  bench 
and  oiled  paper  windows  give  way  to  our  uncommon  common 
school.  She  has  seen  the  spinning  wheel  retire  for  the 
spinning  jenny  ;  the  stitch  of  the  weary  needle  replaced  by 
the  sewing  machine;  the  slow  sickle  in  the  reaper's  hand 
banished  by  the  mower  and  reaper ;  the  flail  by  the  thresher ; 
the  lumbering  coach  by  the  fast  express ;  the  occasional 
overland  mail  by  the  postal  telegraph  and  cable,  and  the 
courier,  on  relays  of  horses,  by  the  telephone.  She  has 
seen  the  feeble,  impoverished  colonies  surpass  in  wealth 
every  other  nation. 

She  has  seen  her  sister  churches,  in  common  with  herself, 
grow  strong  and  influential,  with  spires  daily  piercing  the 
skies.  Truly  "  God  hath  not  dealt  so  with  any  nation." 
To-day  we  have  reason  for  thanksgiving  for  a  home  in  this 
goodly  city,  a  place  in  this  honored  old  church,  and  for  a 
remembrance  of  the  days  of  old  and  the  knowledge  that  for 
more  than  two  centuries  she  has  without  strife,  division  or 
cessation  gone  on  in  her  work.  To-day  we  inaugurate  our 
Bi-centennial  celebration.  As  Albanians,  whether  this  be 
our  native  heath  or  our  adopted  home,  it  becomes  us  to 
recognize  God's  hand  in  the  history  and  development  of  the 
city.  Albany  is  an  honored,  prospered  and  lovely  munici- 
pality. Nature  has  done  much  for  her,  and  art  has  grandly 
aided.  She  is  to-day  noted  for  her  wealth,  philanthropy 
and  long-time  history.  She  has  some  splendid  streets  and 
avenues,  elegant  private  residences,  imposing  churches  and 
grand  public  buildings.  And  she  contains  a  most  excellent 
citizenship.  To-day,  in  our  retrospect,  while  we  trace  our 
church  existence  216  or  217  years,  if  we  pause  midway  we 
would  see  an  Albany  very  different. 

A    RETROSPECT. 

One  hundred  years  ago  Albany  was  a  village,  receiving 
mail  once  a  week.  In  1698  Albany  had  but  a  population 
of  803  ;  of  these  five  were  English  families,  one  Scotch  and 

184 


all  others  Dutch.  In  1790,  when  the  community  was  185 
years  old,  there  was  a  population  of  but  3,498.  In  an 
interesting  volume,  "  New  England  in  Albany,"  we  read 
that  Pearl  street  then  was  the  resident  street  for  the  aristo- 
cratic burghers,  and  that  the  people  were  Dutch,  the  houses 
were  Dutch  and  the  dogs  were  Dutch.  The  original  Dutch 
settlers  had  little  enterprise  They  cared  little  for  learning 
or  education,  only  for  liberty  of  trade.  Beaver  skins  and 
ducats  was  the  great  desiderata.  Their  annual  trade  in  1646, 
when  Albany  contained  but  ten  houses,  were  16,000  beaver 
skins.  A  century  ago,  even  these  people  lived  here  very 
quietly,  rising  early,  and  when  the  curfew  bell  rang  at  8  p.  m. 
they  covered  up  their  fires  on  the  hearths  and  retired. 
Thus  in  their  one-story  houses  with  peaked  roofs  and  gables 
to  the  end,  they  lived.  And  in  the  morning  early  on  their 
stoops  (each  house  had  a  stoop)  these  ancient  and  venerable 
mynheers,  with  their  little  sharp-cocked  hats  and  red-ringed 
worsted  caps  drawn  tightly  down  over  their  heads,  there 
they  sat  like  monuments  of  a  former  age,  smoking  their 
pipes  in  dignified  silence,  and  with  phlegmatic  gravity. 
And  on  Sabbath,  with  ruffled  shirt  front,  knee-breeches, 
silver-buckled  shoes,  immense  wigs,  and  their  cocked  hats, 
these  burghers  wended  their  way  to  church.  No  furnaces 
were  in  use  then  ;  portable  stoves  or  warm  bricks  were  taken 
to  the  sanctuary.  And  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  to  see 
fifty  or  seventy-five  colored  servants  or  slaves  at  the  church 
door  with  foot-stoves,  or  warm  bricks,  wrapped  in  flannel, 
the  records  saying  that  the  deacons  used  a  little  sack  or  bag, 
on  the  end  of  a  pole  for  taking  the  collections,  and  that  a 
bell  was  on  the  end  of  the  pole.  But  tehse  are  bygones. 
Albany  is  now  a  modern  city,  and  she  is  rapidly  improving, 
catching  more  and  more  the  spirit  of  enterprise.  Our  highest 
expression  of  interest  in  her  past,  present  and  prospective 
welfare  is  to  be  found  in  a  loyal  love  for  all  that  is  good,  and 
a  watchful  and  outspoken  hate  and  opposition  for  all  that  is 
wrong." 

The  history  of  the  First  I>utheran  church  has  special 
interest,  not  alone  to  its  own  membership  and  local  friends, 
but  as  well  to  all  Lutherans,  because  it  is  the  oldest  continued 
organization  in  the  denomination  in  America. 

The  church  in  New  Amsterdam  (now  New  York  city) 
having  lost  its  identity  when  in  1783,  Trinity  and  Christ's 
church,  usually  called  the  Old  Swamp  church,  united.     The 

185 


first  Lutheran  settlement  in  this  country  was  made  in  New 
Amsterdam  in  1623,  they  coming  from  Holland.  The 
second  distinct  body  of  Lutherans  came  from  Sweden  in 
1636,  and  settled  on  Delaware  bay,  and  bought  land  of  the 
Indians.  They  brought  a  pastor  with  them  and  were  the 
first  Lutherans  organized  under  the  care  of  a  pastor.  But, 
later,  owing  to  a  scarcity  of  English  speaking  preachers,  they 
became  Episcopalians,  thus  leaving  the  New  York  churches 
the  priority  as  continued  Lutheran  organizations.  More- 
over, Albany,  the  sight  of  the  church,  is  the  oldest  city  in 
the  original  thirteen  colonies.  Jamestown,  Va.,  long  a  rival 
in  point  of  age,  having  past  from  existence.  The  principles 
of  the  reformation  had  been  carried  to  Holland  and  strong 
churches  established  there  soon  after  Luther's  work.  Thus 
before  America  was  known  as  a  land  of  refuge  for  the 
oppressed,  Protestants  had  settled  in  various  lands  and  some 
had  sought  an  shore.  There  was  a  strife  in  Holland  over 
Armenianism  and  Calvinism,  and  the  Lutherans  were 
appressed.  Hence  these  Dutch  Lutherans  emigated  from 
Holland  to  America.  'J'his  establishment  of  Lutherans  was 
effected  here  a  little  more  than  a  century  after  the  discovery 
of  America  and  within  a  few  years  after  the  landing  of  the 
Pilgrims  on  Plymouth  Rock,  and  while  the  thirty-five  years' 
war  was  raging  in  Germany.  In  1657  their  first  pastor  came, 
but  was  ordered  by  the  Dutch  authorities  to  return  by  the 
same  ship.  In  1664,  however,  the  Lutheran  congregation 
was  in  an  organized  condition.  The  Bi-centennial  history 
of  Albany  and  Schenectady  counties  says  that  the  first 
edifice  of  the  Lutheran  church  was  built,  1668  or  1670,  on 
Pearl  street,  the  present  site  of  the  City  building.  In  1784, 
the  society  was  incorporated. 

The  present  site  is  doubly  historic,  for  on  it  stood  the  old 
colonial  army  hospital,  and  in  a  room  in  that  hospital  was 
fitted  up  in  1769  Albany's  first  theatre.  For  two  hundred 
and  sixteen  or  seventeen  years  on  two  spots  in  Albany  the 
gospel  of  God's  grace  has  been  preached  and  the  ordinances 
of  church  administered  according  to  our  usage.  In  1668 
Rev.  Jacob  Fabritum  became  the  first  pastor.  He  has  been 
followed  by  Revs.  Rudman,  Falckner,  Berkenmeyer,  Knoll, 
Moeller,  Braun,  Schuefeger,  Groetz,  Moeller,  Mayer,  Pohl- 
man,  Sprecher,  Magee  and  the  present  incumbent. 


186 


CLINTON  SQUARE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 
Anniversary  services  at  the  Clinton  Square  Presby- 
terian church  w^re  made  impressive  by  the  presence 
of  Rev.  Dr.  E.  A.  Huntington,  of  the  Auburn  Theo- 
logical seminary,  who  preached  a  close,  argumentative 
sermon  from  the  sixth  verse  of  the  tenth  chapter  of 
II.  Corinthians.  After  concluding  his  sermon,  he 
interested  his  hearers  by  recalling  the  early  associa- 
tions of  the  church : 

"  Fifty  years  ago  to-day,"  he  said,  "  I  preached  my  second 
sermon,  and  it  was  before  a  congregation  of  this  church, 
then  called  the  Third  Presbyterian  church  of  Albany.  These 
associations  are  dear  to  me  from  the  fact  that  it  is  the  only 
church  I  was  ever  pastor  of  Its  history  of  pastors  is  remark- 
able. In  fifty  years  you  have  had  but  three  pastors,  I  served 
you  eighteen  years,  and  was  then  called  to  my  present  posi- 
tion in  the  Auburn  Theological  seminary,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Dr.  Halley,  who  was  your  beloved  pastor  for  twenty-two 
years,  when  your  present  pastor,  who  has  ministered  to  you 
for  ten  years,  began  his  labors  with  you. 

STATE    STREET   PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Rev.  Dr.  Holmes  preached  in  the  morning  from 
Acts  xxi :  39 :    "A  Citizen  of  No  Mean  City." 

After  briefly  touching  upon  Albany's  proud  history,  Dr. 
Holmes  said  he  choose  rather  to  employ  the  past  with  a  view 
to  the  improvement  of  the  future,  and  to  gather  up  the  lessons 
of  the  by-gone  centuries  respecting  the  duties  of  citizenship. 
A  proper  discharge  of  our  duties  as  citizens  necessitates  an 
increase  of  pubUc  spirit,  and  a  general  diffusion  of  intellectual 
culture,  an  attention  to  social  obligations,  and  more  impor- 
tant still,  a  thorough  fulfillment  of  the  political  duties  we  are 
summoned  to  discharge.  But  the  chief  duty  which  devolves 
upon  us  in  giving  ennoblement  to  the  city  in  which  we  live, 
respects  rts  moral  and  spiritual  improvement.  Nor  must  we 
measure  public  morals  by  any  other  standard  than  the  aver- 
age righteousness  of  the  whole  people.  It  is  ours  as  citizens 
of  this  ancient  municipality  to  diffuse  divine  light  and  life 
among  all   who  dwell   within  the  sphere  of  our  influence. 

187 


The  very  rich  and  the  very  poor  aUke  need  Christian  effort 
in  their  behalf.  And  the  intermediate  classes  also  require 
the  expenditure  of  earnest  activity.  We  must  proclaim  the 
sanctity  of  the  Lord's  day  and  the  Lord's  home,  and  the 
immediate  duty  of  sincere  repentance  and  having  faith. 
The  third  century  of  our  city's  life  should  concern  us  far 
more  than  either  the  first  or  the  second.  Let  us  discharge 
our  duties  in  connection  with  it,  and  God  grant  it  may  be 
a  future  filled  up  with  ennobling  experiences  and  divinely 
discharged  duties. 


AFRICAN   M.    E.  CHURCH. 

At  the  Israel  M.  E.  church  on  Hamilton  street, 
there  was  a  very  large  attendance,  and  the  sermon 
was  by  the  Rev.  Israel  Derrick.  Subject:  "Fifty- 
seven  years  in  Albany ;  or  theConflicts  and  Con- 
quests of  African  Methodism."  The  preacher  said 
in  epitome : 

No  victory  can  be  achieved  without  a  well-planned  and 
a  hard  fought  battle.  Endurance  and  perseverance,  even 
against  opposition,  will  eventually  be  rewarded.  History  is 
full  of  examples  and  illustrations  which  may  help  us  to  stand 
firm  at  our  post  of  duty  and  put  forth  all  the  energies  of 
body  and  mind,  regardless  of  antagonizing  forces,  so  that 
honest  and  earnest  endeavor  may  be  crowned  with  abundant 
success.  African  Methodism,  during  the  last  half  century  of 
this  city,  has  been  engaged  in  a  financial,  moral  and  religious 
conflict.  God  is  on  her  side.  She  is  destined  to  push  the 
battle  until  the  war  is  ended.  Then  will  she  return  her  armor 
to  the  armory  of  heaven  and  join  the  triumphant  church  on 
high. 

It  would  seem  that  after  so  many  futile  attempts  have  been 
made  by  other  colored  denominations,  that  this  Hamilton 
street  African  Methodist  Episcopal  church  is  destined  by 
the  God  of  Heaven  to  evangelize  the  colored  people  of  this 
city,  I  call  upon  you  this  evening,  on  this,  the  Two  Hundredth 
Anniversary  of  the  City  of  Albany,  to  wheel  into  line  and 
give  a  helping  hand  in  this  great  work. 

1 88 


Let  us  be  true  to  ourselves,  to  the  city  and  State,  and  last, 
but  not  least,  let  us  be  true  to  the  church  ;  and  may  the 
good  Lord  keep  and  prosper  us  until  the  end  of  time. 

FIRST  REFORMED  CHURCH. 
There  was  a  large  congregation  at  the  First  Re- 
formed church  in  the  evening  and  the  services  were 
of  much  interest,  the  musical  portion  being  also 
attractive.  The  pastor.  Rev.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman, 
chose  his  text  from  Deut.  iv :  32  :  "Ask  now  of  the 
days  that  are  past."  An  epitome  of  the  discourse 
follows : 

This  is  the  prerogative  of  the  Reformed  church.  She 
dates  back  more  than  three  hundred  years.  Her  doctrinal 
standards  and  polity  are  derived  primarily  from  the  action  of 
those  who  met  at  Antwerp  in  1563,  and  in  the  beginning  ^he 
was  closely  identified  with  the  Reformers.  In  1642  Johanes 
Megapolensis  began  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  until  the 
prese  t  time  the  Dutch  church  has  been  faithful  to  the  city's 
interests.  One  of  her  members  was  commissioner  to  secure 
the  charter  and  appeared  with  it  before  the  governor  of  the 
State. 

So  we  take  our  part  in  this  Bi-centennial  celebration, 
because  we  have  as  a  denomination  a  firm  hold  upon  the 
past,  and  the  things  which  have  been  of  importance  to 
Albany  in  the  past  two  hundred  years,  have  likewise  been 
closely  associated  with  the  Reformed  church.  There  wor- 
ships with  us  a  family  but  four  generations  removed  from 
Peter  Schuyler,  the  first  mayor  of  the  city. 

We  have  in  our  membership  direct  descendants  of  Alex- 
ander Glen,  who  built  the  first  church  of  Schenectady,  and 
whose  wife  was  Catharine  Dongan,  sister  of  him  who  was 
governor  at  the  time  the  charter  was  granted. 

But  more  highly  are  we  honored,  as  a  denomination,  in 
the  history  we  have  had,  in  the  long  line  of  faithful  ministers 
who  have  in  our  churches  preached  the  gospel,  in  the  godly 
men  and  women  who  have  constituted  our  membership,  in 
the  memory  of  the  missionaries  who  have  gone  out  from  us 
to  do  service  for  our  Lord  in  foreign  lands,  in  the  two  hun- 
dred and  forty-four  years  of  labor  in  His  vineyard. 

189 


SIXTH  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 
"  Characteristic  Elements  in  the  Religious  Faith  of 
our  Forefathers,"  was  the  subject  of  the  Rev.  J.  D. 
Countermine's  sermon  at  the  Sixth  Presbyterian 
church  in  the  morning.  He  took  his  text  from  Acts 
xvii :  26 : 

After  an  eloquent  sermon  he  closed  by  saying  :  Out  of 
the  fatherhood  of  God  naturally  grows  the  great  principle  of 
the  essential  brotherhood  of  man.  God  has  made  of  one 
blood  all  nations  of  men  to  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth. 
Recognizing  this,  our  forefathers  gave  early  promise  of 
becoming  a  free,  united  and  happy  people.  How  could  it 
have  been  otherwise  ?  The  national  honor  and  strength, 
wealth  and  glory  which  we  possess  have  come  as  the  merit- 
able  result  not  so  nmch  of  what  our  forefathers  did  as  of 
what  they  believed.  It  was  their  faith  that  made  them  great. 
Had  they  believed  less,  had  they  just  left  out  of  their  creed 
the  one  doctrine  of  man's  universal  brotherhood,  it  is  safe  to 
say  we  never  would  have  been  what  we  are  to-day,  one  of 
the  leading  nations  of  the  earth.  What  we  have  said  of 
America  in  general,  is  true  of  Albany  in  particular.  Her 
greatness  is  due  not  so  much  to  the  beauty  of  her  situation, 
or  to  the  abundance  of  her  natural  resources,  as  to  her  men 
of  character,  enlightenment  and  faith.  They  were  not  per- 
fect, but  the  great  truths  which  they  loved  and  cherished  are 
still  the  richest  inheritance  of  the  race.  Possessing  these 
truths  we,  as  a  city,  have  nothing  to  fear,  for  in  them  alone 
are  life,  honor,  wealth,  strength  and  immortality. 

ST.  PETER'S  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 
"  A  citizen  of  no  mean  city  "  (Acts,  xxi :  39)  was 
the  text  of  the  discourse  preached  before  a  large 
congregation  at  St.  Peter's  church,  in  the  morning, 
by  the  rector  Rev.  Walton  W.  Battershall.  The 
reverend  gentleman  said  : 

The  thought,  lurking  in  that  claim  of  St.  Paul  to  his 
Tarsian  citizenship,  lies  at  the  heart  of  this  Bi-centennary  of 
our  charter  day.      Little  as  it  was,  Albany  did  good  service 

190 


in  those  ancient  days.  All  beyond  it  to  the  west  and  north, 
except  the  hamlet  of  Schenectady  and  the  French  settle- 
ments on  the  St.  Lawrence,  was  unbroken  wilderness.  The 
stockade,  thirteen  feet  high,  was  of  little  worth,  if  that  living 
bulwark  of  savage  allies  should  yield  to  the  arms  or  bribes 
of  the  French 

But  in  this  picture  of  ancient  Albany  I  cannot  forbear  to 
mention  one  landmark,  in  which  we  who  worship  at  this 
altar  have  a  peculiar  inheritance.  For  about  forty  years 
after  the  peaceful  seizure  by  the  English,  the  old  Dutch 
church  at  the  foot  of  State  street,  and  the  Lutheran  church 
on  South  Pearl  street  sufficed  for  the  religious  needs  of  the 
city.  In  the  accounts  of  Peter  Schuyler,  the  deacon  of  the 
Dutch  church  in  1683,  and  the  tirst  mayor  of  the  city,  we 
read  that  the  thirteenth  of  January  was  observed  as  a  day 
of  fasting  and  prayer,  to  divert  God's  heavy  judgment  from 
falling  on  the  English  nation  for  the  murder  of  King  Charles, 
martyr  of  blessed  memory,  and  that  the  expenses  of  the 
church  therefor  were  seventeen  guilders.  In  1708,  Thomas 
Barclay  was  chaplain  of  the  garrison.  Soon  there  was  need 
of  an  English  church  in  Albany.  On  the  21st  of  October, 
1 7 14,  Governor  Hunter  issued  letters  patent  granting  a  plot 
of  ground  in  the  street  below  the  fort  for  a  church  and 
cemetery.  Despite  all  obstacles,  the  work  went  on,  and,  in 
the  course  of  a  year,  a  stone  structure  fifty-eight  feet  long 
and  forty- two  wide,  later  known  as  St.  Peter's  church,  stood 
in  the  middle  of  Jenker's  street,  one  block  below  the  present 
site — the  first  permanent  footprint  of  the  English  church 
beyond  the  seaboard. 

Such  in  brief  outHne  is  the  picture  which  our  Bi-centennial 
commemoration  summons  from  the  past.  It  is  something 
to  claim  citizenship  in  "no  mean  city,"  a  city  that  has  a 
history  and  has  had  so  much  to  do  with  the  making  of 
history. 

But  what  avails  it  to  study  the  past  except  to  win  from 
it  light  and  energy  for  the  duty  of  the  present  ?  You,  men 
of  Albany,  are  molding  the  character  of  your  city,  not  simply 
by  municipal  legislation,  but  by  those  personal  traits,  those 
daily  dealings  by  which  you  made  the  moral  atmosphere  the 
business  methods,  the  political  life  of  the  city.  The  import- 
ance of  cities  is  not  measured  by  their  bulk  any  more  than 
the  importance  of  men  ;  but  growth  is  every  sign  of  health. 


191 


FIRST  METHODIST  CHURCH. 
At  the  First  Methodist  church,  in  the  morning,  the 
Rev.  H.  A.  Starks  took  for  his  text:  "Then  Sam- 
uel took  a  stone  and  set  it  between  Mizpeh  and  Shen, 
and  called  the  name  of  it  Ebenezer,"  saying: 
"  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  us."      i  Sam.  vii :  12: 

A  principle,  deeply  implanted  in  human  nature,  and 
repeatedly  recognized  in  scripture,  leads  to  the  observance 
of  commemorative  days.  The  city  in  which  we  dwell  has 
come  to  the  Two  Hundreth  Anniversary  of  its  life. 

To-day  an  attempt  is  being  made  to  answc  the  question, 
"  What  of  the  history  and  influence  of  Christianity  in 
Albany  ?  "  Especially  should  our  own  society,  the  oldest 
in  this  city  be  interested  in  giving  a  satisfactory  reply  to  this 
question.  In  1760,  two  men,  Philip  Emburg  and  Thomas 
Webb,  the  former  in  New  York,  the  latter  in  Albany,  com- 
menced their  labors.  The  Rev.  Freeborn  Garrettson  was 
the  founder  of  the  Methodist  creed  in  Albany.  In  1789  a 
small  but  flourishing  society  was  in  Albany.  In  1791  Mr. 
Garrettson  dedicated  the  first  Methodist  church  in  this  city. 
It  was  a  small  fifty-two  by  forty-four  building  on  the  south- 
east corner  of  Pearl  and  Orange  streets.  The  first  board  of 
trustees  was  elected  in  1792. 

In  1805  Elias  Vanderlip  was  appointed  pastor  on  account 
of  serious  divisions  which  had  arisen.  In  181 1  the  common 
council  gave  the  society  the  lot  on  Hallenbeck  and  Plain 
streets,  sixty-six  by  one  hundred  feet.  In  1813  the  newedifice 
on  Division  street  was  built.  A  Sunday  school  was  formed 
in  18 1 6.  In  1826  they  moved  into  a  large  hall  on  North 
Pearl  street,  formerly  used  as  a  circus.  From  time  to  time 
new  divisions  arose  and  new  societies  were  formed.  In 
1844  the  Hudson  street  edifice  was  occupied.  The  pros- 
perity of  the  society  was  now  assured  by  the  large  congrega- 
tion. In  1883  they  moved  again  into  their  now  elegant 
structure  on  the  corner  of  Hudson  avenue  and  Philip  street. 

TRINITY   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 
At   Trinity  Episcopal   church  in   the   morning  the 
pastor,   Rev.  Dr.  C.  H.  W.  Stocking,   chose  his  text 


192 


from  Prov.  xi :  1 1  :    "  By  the  blessing  of  the  upright 
the  city  is  exalted,"  and  in  conclusion  said : 

Two  hundred  years  of  human  life  and  activity  are  but  a 
small  segment  of  the  circle  of  being.  We  are  but  a  handful 
of  sand  on  the  stretching  shores  of  peoples  and  nations.  The 
pride  with  which  we  begin  this  great  Bi-centennial  week 
should  be  tempered  with  humility.  It  is  one  of  the  fallacies 
of  our  day  that  a  courageous  and  prosperous  national  life 
tends  to  improvement,  and  is  inseparably  connected  with 
all  advancement.  The  traveler  stands  to-day  among  the 
ruins  of  ancient  temples  to  wonder  at  the  marvelous  civiliza- 
tion of  Greece.  The  glorious  city  of  the  Tiber  is  a  dusty 
relic,  her  language  dead  and  her  name  and  fame  are  but  a 
romance,  while  Albany  is  stronger  to-day  than  Rome  ever 
was  in  all  that  constitutes  general  stability.  They  ordered 
their  households  with  simplicity  and  virtue.  They  traded 
honestly,  kept  their  hands  from  picking  and  stealing,  and 
their  bodies  in  temperance  and  chastity.  They  refreshed 
their  minds  at  the  stream  of  a  pure  education.  Whatever  of 
past  prosperity  Albany  has  had,  whatever  she  now  enjoys 
and  whatever  of  hope  for  the  future  she  cherishes,  is  rooted 
deeply  in  the  truth  that  by  the  blessing  of  the  upright  the 
city  is  exalted. 

OTHER   SERVICES. 

A  large  audience  gathered  to  hear  the  Bi-centennial 
services  given  in  the  Bethel-El-Jacob  synagogue  on 
Fulton  street,  the  rabbi,  Rev.  Dr.  Distillator,  having 
prepared  a  complete  programme.  Prayer  for  the 
rulers  of  the  United  States,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Zimmerman ; 
sermon  touching  the  rise  and  progress  of  the  Jews 
in  Albany,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Distillator,  ending  with  a 
prayer  for  the  city  officials.  The  synagogue  was 
most  handsomely  decorated,  the  programme  attract- 
ive and  well  rendered,  and  the  congregation  well 
pleased. 

At  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  of  Our  Lady  Help 
of  Christians  a  solemn  high  mass  was  said,  accom- 

193 


panied  by  an  apropriate  sermon  in  German  delivered 
by  Mgr.  H.  Cluever,  pastor. 

The  Rev.  William  S.  Boardman,  a  former  rector, 
delivered  the  sermon  at  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Inno- 
cents. The  text:  "My  days  are  a  shadow  that  is 
declining,"  I02d  Psalm,  2. 

MONDAY,  JULY  19TH. 

Trades  and  Manufacturers  and  Children's  Day. 

Exercises  by  School  Children. 

Morning. — Opening  the  city  gates.  Canoe  races 
in  front  of  the  city. 

Afternoon. — Grand  parade  of  manufacturers, 
tradesmen  and  mechanics,  with  workshops  on  floats, 
etc.  Marking  with  bronze  tablets  historical  spots, 
accompanied  by  appropriate  exercises. 

Evening. — Concert  by  trained  chorus  of  one 
thousand  school  children  in  Capitol  Park.  Grand 
children's  fete,  closing  with  elaborate  pyrotechnic 
display.     A  triple  band  concert  in  Washington  Park. 

opening  the  city  gates. 

About  ten  o'clock  the  historic  ceremony  of  open- 
ing the  city  gates  was  beheld  with  great  interest  by  a 
large  multitude.  The  procession  formed  at  the  city 
hall,  and  previous  to  the  hour  of  starting,  the  mayor's 
office  was  filled  with  members  of  the  Bi-centennial 
committee  wearing  beautiful  badges,  city  officials  and 
prominent  citizens. 

After  a  little  unavoidable  delay,  the  processsion 
was  formed  under  the  direction  of  Col.  John  S.  Mc- 

194 


Ewan,  and  chief  assistant,  Major  Lewis  Balch.  The 
formation  of  the  Hne  was  as  follows  : 

Sergt.  Winne  and  a  platoon  of  police,  Plattsburgh 
band.  Burgesses  corps,  Crier  Jacob  D.  Pohlman,  City 
Marshal  Craven,  City  officers.  Recorder  and  Justices, 
headed  by  Mayor  Thacher,  President  McCann  and 
common  council,  Poughkeepsie  band,  Jackson  corps, 
citizens'  Bi-centennial  committee,  headed  by  ex-Mayor 
Banks,  Caughnawaga  Indians  in  costume,  members 
of  the  board  of  trade  and  citizens  generally. 

The  Burgesses  corps,  under  Maj.  Van  Zandt,  num- 
bered five  staff,  three  line  and  thirty-six  muskets  and 
the  Jackson  corps,  Maj.  MacFarlane  commanding,  six 
staff,  five  line  and  thirty-two  muskets. 

Marshal  Craven  wore  a  broad  cardinal  sash  about 
his  waist,  and  carried  in  hand  the  traditional  white 
wand.  Mayor  Thacher  carried  the  emblem  of  author- 
ity, a  sword.  The  procession  presented  a  fine  appear- 
ance, and  not  the  least  centre  of  interest  were  the 
Indians  in  their  glaring  costumes. 

The  route  of  march  was  as  follows :  Washington 
avenue  to  Lark  street,  to  Hudson  avenue,  to  Broad- 
way. Here  the  first  or  south  gate  of  the  city  was 
located.  The  structure  was  of  wood,  thickly  trimmed 
with  evergreens,  and  extended  from  curb  to  curb. 
Above  the  horizontal  on  top  was  the  following  inscrip- 
tion : 

"  Ye  Southe  Gate  of  ye  Citty, 
Leading  to  ye  Fort,  ye  Ferrie  and  ye  Pasture." 

Between  the  uprights  swung  the  city  gates,  con- 
structed of  unplaned  dark  board,  ten  feet  in  height 
and   sharpened  at  the  upper  end  into  the  semblance 


195 


of  a  palisade.  A  heavy  bolt  and  padlock  kept  the 
gates  shut  to  all  comers  on  the  thoroughfare  until  the 
mayor  had  bid  them  welcome. 

THE  CEREMONY. 
Just  by  this  gate  the  procession  halted.  Mayor 
Thacher.  sword  in  hand,  accompanied  by  Marshal 
Craven  and  crier  Pohlman,  stepped  forward,  and  key 
in  hand  unlocked  the  padlock.  Two  sturdy  constables 
in  blue  uniforms  put  their  shoulders  to  the  gates, 
which  swung  apart  from  the  pressure.  The  scene 
was  picturesque  and  unique.  Under  the  arch  stood 
the  mayor,  flanked  by  his  crier  and  marshal.  The 
common  council  on  the  east  side  and  the  Bi-centen- 
nial  committee  on  the  west  side  stood  grouped  about 
the  gate.  In  the  centre  stood  the  little  bronzed  and 
painted  group  of  Mohawk  braves,  and  the  red  coats 
of  the  soldiers  and  the  band's  blue  uniforms  hemmed 
in  the  circle.  The  background  was  thousands  of 
citizens.  As  the  gates  swung  open  crier  Pohlman 
stepped  briskly  forward  and  in  stentorian  tones 
shouted  "  Uncover."  At  the  word  every  head  was 
bared,  and  where  a  moment  before  had  been  the  hum 
of  voices  was  profound  silence.      Spake  the  crier: 

Hear  ye,  hear  ye,  hear  ye.  To  all  strangers  without  this 
gate.  Keep  silence,  keep  silence.  The  Mayor  of  the  city 
is  about  to  issue  his  proclamation.  Peace,  silence,  and  hear 
him. 

Then  Mayor  Thacher,  in  loud  tones,  proclaimed : 

To  all  ye  of  good  fame  and  honest  name,  traveler, 
student,  friend,  who  shall  enter  our  gates  this  day  and  in  the 
days  that  for  three  terms  shall  follow  after  this :  Peace, 
welcome,  cheer  and  greeting. 

196 


Hitherto  have  ye  come  after  twice  one  hundred  years, 
and  within  our  walls  to-day  we  celebrate  this  natal  event. 
Join  with  us  in  the  commemoration  of  the  day  when  our 
fathers  received  their  charter  two  hundred  years  ago. 

Enter  then  beneath  this  triumphal  arch  and  with  us  unite 
in  parade  and  oration.  Freedom,  liberty  and  immunity  we 
give  thee  for  this  time. 

At  the  same  time  Marshal  Craven  tacked  the  pro- 
clamation on  sheepskin  on  the  gate,  signed  "  John 
Boyd  Thacher,  mayor.  Done  in  the  ancient  city  of 
Albany  this  day,  July  19,  1886." 

After  the  proclamation,  the  Indians  rendered  an 
Iroquois  hymn.  The  weird  sound  of  the  Iroquois 
song  of  welcome  rose  as  the  last  nail  was  driven. 
The  singers  had  taken  their  stand  in  the  centre  of 
the  scene,  facing  the  Mayor,  and  in  tuneful  chorus 
acknowledged  the  hospitality  extended  by  this  gen- 
eration to  them  as  their  fathers  had  welcomed  our 
fathers  on  nearly  the  same  spot  two  hundred  and  fifty 
years  ago.  The  band  then  struck  up  "  Yankee 
Doodle,"  composed  near  Albany  in  1755,  the  proces- 
sion reformed  and  the  strangers  without  the  gates 
flocked  within  the  city  walls. 

AT   THE   NORTH    GATE. 

Handelaer's  street  (Broadway)  was  packed  with 
people  and  gay  with  color  as  the  procession  started 
from  the  south  gate  to  the  north  gate,  through  which, 
on  Sunday  morning,  February  9,  1690,  Symon 
Schermerhorn  dashed  on  full  gallop,  bearing  the 
tidings  of  Schenectady's  fate.  The  north  gate  is 
erected  near  Steuben  street,  opposite  ye  American 
express  building,  and  is  the  counterpart  of  the  south 
gate.     The  inscription  over  it  reads : 

197 


Ye  North  Gate  of  ye  Citty, 
Ye  Create  road  to  ye  Canadas. 

At  the  north  gate  the  same  ceremony  as  at  the 
south  gate  was  repeated  in  the  same  impressive 
manner.  As  the  proclamation  was  nailed  in  place, 
the  Van  Rensselaer  cannon  of  1630  thundered  the 
first  of  the  federal  salute  of  thirty-eight  guns,  fired  by 
Capt.  Archie  Young,  from  the  pier  which  completed 
the  terminus  of  DeWitt  Clinton's  great  project.  The 
procession  then  formed  again  and  marched  over  the 
prescribed  route  to  the  Stadt  Huys,  where  a  modest 
collation  had  been  spread  for  the  participants.  All 
through  the  day  strangers  flocked  into  the  city  through 
the  gates,  so  auspiciously  opened  as  the  formal 
beginning  of  the  Bi-centennial  celebration. 

THE  SCHOOL  CHILDREN'S  FESTIVAL. 
It  was  almost  half  past  ten  when  the  opening  notes 
of  "America  "  swelled  from  a  chorus  of  half  a  thou- 
sand voices,  led  by  Prof.  George  Edgar  Oliver.  At 
that  time  the  tent,  located  in  Capitol  park,  was  fairly 
packed  from  end  to  end.  Not  only  were  the  seats 
filled,  but  the  canvas  at  the  sides  of  the  tent  was 
raised  and  i  thousands  crowded  here  in  the  vain 
endeavor  to  see  over  the  heads  of  the  spectators 
within.  Such  a  pushing  and  jostling,  such  a  clamber- 
ing over  the  ends  of  seats,  such  a  struggle  to  raise 
one's  eyes  half  a  foot  higher  from  the  ground  than 
nature  intended,  could  not  be  seen  save  upon  a 
Bi-centennial  occasion.  After  Director  Oliver  had 
gracefully  waved  the  children  to  the  seats,  upon  the 
conclusion  of  the  chorus,  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  Livingston 
Reese  stepped  to  the  front  of  the  platform  and  offered 
up  an  eloquent  prayer : 

198 


O  Lord  God  Almighty  and  Generous  Father,  whom  no 
eye  has  seen  and  can  see,  and  yet  who  dwellest  in  the  heart 
of  the  lowly  and  humble,  we  come  to  thee  this  day  for  thy 
special  blessing.  We  thank  thee  for  the  lessons  of  the  past, 
for  the  good  examples  of  those  whose  names  we  now  revere 
and  whose  virtues  we  would  copy.  We  thank  thee  for  the 
means  thou  hast  given  us  in  this  land  for  the  education  of 
the  young  and  their  training  in  truth  and  holiness.  Direct 
those  who  have  charge  of  the  schools  of  this  city  and  to 
whom  thou  hast  entrusted  this  great  work.  Fill  their  memo- 
ries with  the  words  of  the  law.  Enlighten  their  understand- 
ing with  the  illumination  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Impress 
deeply  upon  the  children  of  this  city  the  love  and  duty  and 
the  fear  and  reverence  of  thee,  their  Father  and  their  God. 
Give  them  wisdom  to  see  that  though  old  things  pass  away, 
yet  there  is  no  decline  in  faith,  in  the  beauty  of  righteous- 
ness, in  the  gloriousness  of  purity,  the  splendor  of  virtue 
and  the  strength  of  truth.  Make  them  strong  in  heart,  full 
of  courage,  fearless  of  danger,  holding  pain  and  loss  cheap 
when  they  He  in  the  way  of  truth  and  duty.  Make  them 
strong  in  love,  true  friends,  tender  neighbors,  helpful  citizens. 
Make  them  strong  in  faith,  believing  thy  word  and  promises, 
ever  trusting  in  the  victory  of  good  over  evil.  Make  them 
strong  in  hope,  undaunted  by  seeming  defeat,  ever  looking 
beyond  the  mists  and  clouds  of  time  into  the  clear  shining 
of  the  eternal  life.  Make  them  strong  in  voice  to  sing  thy 
praises,  to  magnify  thy  name,  to  resist  evil.  Oh  God  most 
loving,  God  most  pitiful,  strengthen  thy  children  daily  to  do 
and  to  bear,  to  suffer  and  to  hope,  to  fight  the  good  fight, 
and  at  last  to  lay  hold  upon  the  crown  of  life  everlasting. 

Then  the  orchestra  played  a  festive  march,  and  the 
curtain  rolled  back  on  the  first 

HISTORICAL  TABLEAU, 
representing  the  arrival  of  Henry  Hudson  at  the  site 
of  Albany.     The    characters   were    taken    by    these 
pupils  from  the  High  School. 

Hendrick  Hudson,  William  Newton ;  Robert  Juet, 
Master's  Mate,  Lucius  Washburn  ;  Hudson's  Crew, 
Acton  Borthwick,  Edward  O.  Smith,  Charles  Scherer, 

199 


George  Van  Buren,  Willard  Van  Wormer,  Fred 
White  ;  Mohawk  Princess,  Lillie  Goodwin ;  Mohican 
Chief,  Robert  McCormic ;  Mohawk  Chief,  Fred  Gay- 
lord  ;  Indian  Braves,  Madison  Ames,  Benjamin  Aus- 
tin, Paul  Burton,  Henry  Dell,  Arthur  McHarg,  Joseph 
Robe,  Everett  St.  Lewis,  Roscoe  C.  Sanford.  The 
costumes  were  picturesque  and  historically  correct, 
and  the  efforts  of  the  children  called  out  a  shout  of 
applause  from  the  favored  few  who  could  see  the 
tableau.  The  Indians  looked  very  fierce  in  their 
feathers  and  war  paint,  and  quite  threw  into  the  shade 
the  peaceful  and  civilized  Mohawks  who  sold  bead- 
work  and  baskets  in  the  park  without,  or  struggled 
with  their  white  brethren  for  a  sight  of  the  exercises 
within.  After  another  musical  selection,  Miss  Theresa 
F.  Smith,  of  Public  School  No.  9,  read  a  selection 
entitled  "Fort  Orange,  1660."  It  was  first  intended 
to  have  the  reading  by  public  school  pupils,  but  it 
was  thought  their  voices  were  not  strong  enough  to 
fill  the  tent,  and  practiced  elocutionists  among  the 
teachers  were  chosen  instead. 

The  curtain  next  rose  on  a  scene  representing  the 
presentation  of  the  Dongan  charter  to  the  aldermen 
of  "  ye  citty."  In  the  centre  was  Mayor  Schuyler 
and  Town  Clerk  Robert  Livingston,  and  ranged  on 
either  side  were  the  burgesses  and  magistrates.  The 
burgesses  were  six  very  pretty  young  ladies  and  when 
the  town  clerk  unrolled  the  charter,  and,  bowing, 
handed  it  to  Mayor  Schuyler,  all  the  staid  old  magis- 
trates took  off  their  three-cornered  hats  and  all  the 
pretty  burgesses  waved  their  hankerchiefs.  Then 
falling  in,  in  procession,  the  curtain  dropped  as  they 


200 


moved  off.  The  characters  and  order  of  procession 
were : 

Peter  Schuyler,  Mayor,  Dwight  Ruggles ;  Robert 
Livingston,  Town  Clerk,  Lewis  Anderson  ;  Ye  Magis- 
trates :  Dirk  Wessels,  Acton  Borthwick;  Jan  Jans 
Bleecker,  Edward  O.  Smith  ;  David  Schuyler,  Charles 
Scherer  ;  Johannes  Wendell,  George  Van  Buren  ;  Liv 
Van  Schaick,  Williard  Van  Wormer ;  Adrian  Geritse, 
Charles  Rhodes.  Ye  Burgesses :  Katharine  Ryser- 
doph,  Carrie  Shutter ;  Anneke  Staels,  Effie  Clute ; 
Catilina  Von  Ale,  Frances  Hayes ;  Margaret  Wy- 
nantse,  Sarah  Gibbon ;  Anajestie  Ryckeman,  Nellie 
Pierson ;  Perseverance  Becker,  Louise  Hogan.  Ye 
Procession :  Ye  Town  Crier,  Lucius  Washburn ;  Ye 
High  Sheriff,  Randall  Le  Bouef;  Ye  Constables, 
Arthur  Shirley,  Fred  White.  Ye  Mayor  and  Town 
Clerk,  with  charter ;  Ye  Magistrates ;  Ye  Justices  of 
the  Peace  ;   Ye  Military  ;   Ye  Firemen. 

Prof.  Oliver's  "  Sailor's  Song"  was  next  sung,  when 
Miss  Agnes  R,  Davidson,  read  "An  incident  of  the 
French  and  Indian  war "  in  finished  style.  The 
next  tableau  was  the  reception  of  Gen.  Burgoyne 
and  Baroness  Reisdesel  by  Mrs.  Philip  Schuyler  at 
the  Schuyler  mansion,  in  October,  1777. 

A    MINUET. 

The  scene  opened  with  the  reception  and  presen- 
tation of  the  general  and  baroness,  followed  by  a 
minuet  in  which  all  the  company  participated.  The 
costuming  was  very  correct  and  the  picture  presented 
was  pleasing.  The  cast  was  from  pupils  in  the  High 
School  and  was  as  follows : 


201 


Mrs.  Philip  Schuyler,  Luella  Becker;  Miss  Marga- 
ret Schuyler,  Elizabeth  Spier ;  Baroness  Reisdesel, 
Sadie  Lipman  ;  Lady  Ackland,  Nellie  Pierson  ;  Lady 
Raymond,  Bessie  Washburn;  Mrs.  Gen.  Westerlo, 
Florence  Home;  Mrs.  Ann  Clinton,  Eloise  Lansing; 
Lady  Belinda,  Carrie  Low.  British :  Lieut.-General 
John  Burgoyne,  Edward  EUery ;  Earl  Balcarras,  Ran- 
dall Le  Bouef ;  Adjt.-Gen.  Kingston,  Lewis  Anderson  ; 
Capt.  Lord  Petersham,  Charles  Scherer ;  Lieut.  Wil- 
ford,  Arthur  Van  Loon.  Americans:  Maj. -Gen.  Philip 
Schuyler,  Dwight  Ruggles;  Adj. -Gen.  Col.  Joseph 
Wilkinson,  Frank  T.  Brown ;  Col.  Gooshen  Van 
Schaick,  Harry  McClure ;  Maj.  Armstrong,  Willard 
Van  Wormer. 

The  "  Bi-centennial  hymn,"  written  by  Alderman 
Howard  N.  Fuller,  music  by  Prof.  Oliver,  was  sung 
with  magnificent  effect  by  the  immense  chorus,  and 
called  for  many  expressions  of  admiration. 

Mayor  Thacher  and  ex-Mayor  Banks,  the  latter 
chairman  of  the  education  committee,  hurried  to  the 
tent  as  soon  as  the  ceremony  of  opening  the  city 
gates  was  completed.  They  arrived  during  the  "  Bi- 
centennial hymn,"  and,  taking  their  places  on  the 
platform,  joined  in  singing  Prof.  Oliver's  magnificent 
chorus.     The  great  interest  of  the  day  centered  in  the 

AWARD    OF   PRIZES, 

the  report  on  the  composition  written  by  boys  being 

read  by  Superintendent  Charles  W.  Cole,  as  follows : 

The  committee  appointed  to  examine  the  essays  for  the 
medal  written  by  boys,  report  that  seven  essays  on  the  given 
subject,  "Albany's  History  and  Growth  During  Two  Centu- 
ries," were  handed  in  for  competition,  and  have  been  care- 
fully  examined    by   us.     Of    these    seven,    the    committee 

202 


without   hesitation    agreed  in  considering   the   two  signed 
respectively  "  Cohotatia "    and    "Alpha"  superior    to    the 
others.     These   two  were,  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee, 
very  nearly  equal  in  excellence,  a  few  minor  defects  in  the 
one  signed  "Alpha,"  which  under  other  circumstances  might 
readily  be  disregarded  as  immaterial,  finally  throwing  the 
scale  in  favor  of  the  other  signed   "  Cohotatia,"  which  we 
decide  to  be  the  best  and  entitled  to  the  prize. 
William  B.  Ruggles, 
Leonard  Kip, 
Edward  A.  Durant,  Jr., 

Committee. 

There  was  breathless  silence  as  the  envelope  con- 
taining the  real  name  of  "  Cohotatia  "  was  opened, 
and  tremendous  applause  followed  the  announcement 
that  the  winner  of  the  prize  was  George  L.  Hodgson, 
of  No.  565  Clinton  avenue.  The  contestant  coming 
so  near  the  prize  and  receiving  honorable  mention 
was  Frank  E.  Delaney,  both  being  pupils  of  the 
Albany  High  School. 

THE    WINNER    OF   THE    CHRL'S    PRIZE. 

Commissioner  Ruso  stepped  to  the  front  and  read 
the  following  report: 

The  committee  appointed  to  examine  the  essays  written 
by  girls,  report  that  thirteen  essays  were  submitted.  Three 
of  the  manuscripts  have,  in  addition  to  the  pseudonym,  the 
age  of  the  girl  competing  for  the  prize,  and  as  they  are  so 
young,  ranging  from  thirteen  to  fourteen,  the  age  may  be 
taken  in  good  faith,  though  the  name  be  a  fiction.  All  of 
the  essays  show  patient  and  persevering  research  in  the 
annals  of  Albany.  Several  show  excellent  judgment  in  the 
selection  of  the  best  points  from  the  mass  of  matter  in  order 
to  present  so  short  an  account  as  that  to  which  the  writer 
was  limited.  From  the  whole  number  of  essays  the  com- 
mittee have  unanimously  selected  the  one  signed  "  Janette 
Van  Schaik "  as  entitled  to  the  prize  offered  by  your 
committee.     The  merits  of  this  essay  are  that  the  writer 

203 


commences  where  the  printed  instructions  require  her  to, 
at  the  beginning  of  the  two  hundred  years  of  Albany's 
history,  the  charter  history  of  the  city,  and  that  the  writer  in 
a  most  original  way,  shows  the  growth  of  the  city  by  the 
study  of  the  development  of  the  Dutchman,  whom  she 
analyzes  in  a  keen,  good-natured,  sarcastic  manner,  whereby 
she  shows  the  reason  for  the  slow,  sure  and  safe  commercial 
progress  of  this  unique  and  interesting  town.  As  second 
best  of  the  essays  the  committee  have  also  with  singular 
unanimity  chosen  the  one  signed  "  Katrinka  K."  This 
essay  is  prepossessing  on  the  face,  from  the  beautiful  pen- 
manship, and  from  its  good  form,  which  have  their  weight 
before  the  literary  merits  are  taken  into  account.  The  essay 
presents  a  series  of  pictures,  changing  as  a  delightful  pano- 
rama before  the  reader.  From  the  graceful  pen  painting  of 
"  Ye  Olden  Time,"  the  writer  leads  with  nice  tact  to  the 
commonplace  history  of  to-day  by  giving  an  account  of  the 
ghostly  visit  of  an  ancient  Knickerbocker,  as  he  materializes 
in  Albany  for  a  space,  to  save  the  author  from  too  abrupt  a 
change  in  her  style  of  writing,  and  the  shock  of  the  transi- 
tion from  life  in  ancient  Beaverwyck  to  that  of  wide-awake 
Albany  in  1886. 

Kate  Stoneman, 

Dora  Wendell  Kirchwey, 

Julia  A.  Werner. 

The  successful  girl  proved  to  be  Miss  Elizabeth  G. 

Davidson,  No.  752  Madison  avenue.    "Katrinka  K.," 

who   received  the  first   honorable  mention,   is    Miss 

Carrie   Curry.     Both  of  these  were  also  of  the  High 

School. 

INTRODUCING   THE   MAYOR. 

While  the  audience  was  discussing  the  awards  the 

scholars  sang,  with   fine  effect,  "  See  the  Conquering 

Hero   Comes,"  from   Handel's   "Judas  Maccabeus," 

after  which  President  Oren  E.  Wilson,  of  the  school 

board,  introduced  Mayor  Thacher  in  these  words  : 

Two  hundred  years  ago  to-day  this  city,  which  we  all  love 
to  call  our  home,  contained  neither  public  school  buildings 
nor  public  school  children.     It  had  no  mayor,  for  it  was  not 

204 


yet  a  city.  To-day  thousands  of  happy  school  children  are 
celebrating  with  music  and  song  the  city's  approaching  anni- 
versary. In  these  festivities  our  mayor  joins,  and  we  bid 
him  a  hearty  welcome,  not  only  because  history  will  honor 
him  as  the  Bi-centennial  mayor  of  the  city  of  Albany,  but 
because  in  his  person  are  combined  the  sturdy  independence 
of  the  ancient  burgomaster  and  the  public  spirit  and  energy 
of  the  modern  citizen.  1  now  have  the  pleasure  of  annouc- 
ing  the  presentation  of  the  prizes  for  the  best  essays  by  his 
honor.  Mayor  John  Boyd  Thacher. 

MAYOR  THACHER'S  ADDRESS. 

In     reply,    Mayor    Thacher    made    the    following 

felicitous  address  : 

A  hateful  meaning  has  come  to  be  attached  to  a  grand 
sentiment,  "  To  the  victors  belong  the  spoils."  Not  on 
the  field  of  battle,  nor  in  predatory  raids  have  your  vic- 
tories been  won,  but  in  that  grandest  of  all  conflicts,  the 
struggle  of  intellect  against  intellect.  Here  spoils  are  legiti- 
mate and  becoming.  They  deck  the  brow  of  him  who  has 
run  the  swiftest,  who  has  struggled  the  fiercest,  who  has 
climbed  the  highest  in  the  world  of  mind.  They  speak 
eloquently  not  only  of  the  struggle  and  the  contest,  but  they 
declare  that  the  victories  they  represent  are  for  the  world 
and  are  dedicated  to  the  service  of  the  race.  I  take  pleas- 
ure now  in  handing  you  your  prizes  so  gallantly  won.  May 
they  incite  within  you  a  spirit  of  emulation  which  shall  bring 
you  yet  other  prizes,  so  that  trophies  and  honors  may  mark 
every  upward  step  of  your  intellectual  career.  And  now, 
children  of  the  public  schools,  having  performed  the  pleasant 
duty  which  brings  me  here,  I  desire  to  call  your  attention 
to  the  interesting  path  in  hterature  into  which  some  of  you 
have  entered  in  the  labor  for  which  these  prizes  were  a 
reward.  Many  a  traveler  has  stood  on  interesting  ground 
without  knowing  it ;  has  made  his  way  into  regions  rich  in 
importance  and  significance  yet  turned  away  because  of 
some  obstacle  or,  failing  to  rightly  appreciate  his  vantage 
ground,  has  ceased  to  journey  further  on  that  way.  History, 
American  history,  is  the  one  path  in  the  literary  world  which 
is  little  traveled  and  imperfectly  explored.  The  question 
will  soon  present  itself  to  you,  as  you  arrive  at  the  time  of 
your  graduation   from  the  schools,  what  will  you  do  with 

205 


your  education,  what  use  will  you  make  of  it  ?  Why  not, 
let  me  suggest,  continue  along  the  road  which  has  been 
opened  to  some  of  you  in  writing  your  highly  interesting 
article  on  the  history  of  Albany  ?  Why  not  make  the  writing 
of  American  history  your  life  work  ?  It  is  a  great  field. 
History  has  always  seemed  to  me  something  like  surveying. 
The  one  is  a  survey  of  the  earth,  the  other  a  survey  of  events. 
A  survey  may  be  of  the  highest  order,  like  a  geodetic  survey, 
taking  into  account  in  its  measurements  the  curvature  of 
the  earth.  Such  a  survey  will  be  absolutely  correct,  the 
angles  will  be  positively  straight  lines  and  the  lines  will  not 
lie.  But  this  is  not  a  satisfactory  survey  in  its  broadest, 
fullest  sense  We  want  a  topographical  survey.  We  want 
to  know  where  the  valley  is  which  laughs  so  thick  with  corn, 
where  the  stream  is  that  comes  tripping  down  the  hillside. 
We  want  to  know  where  the  mountains  are,  where  Marathon 
is,  where  the  sea  is.  We  want  to  know  that  the  mount- 
ains look  on  Marathon  and  that  Marathon  looks  on  the  sea. 
Straight  lines  will  not  do.  We  must  have  a  map  filled  in 
between  the  lines.  It  is  so  with  history  ;  the  straight  lines 
there  are  the  records  of  the  annalist,  the  marks  of  the  chron- 
ologist,  the  bare  outlines  of  the  narration  of  past  events. 
The  province  of  the  historian  is  to  take  these  annals  and 
show  the  relation  between  events,  the  condition  under  which 
they  happen,  the  source  whence  they  have  their  spring,  and 
a  philosophical  inquiry  into  the  great  future  into  which  they 
have  thrown  their  influence,  and  whither  they  are  drawing, 
by  mysterious  cords,  the  present  day  and  hour.  In  Ameri- 
can history  the  angles  are  not  complete,  the  lines  are 
not  straight,  the  map  is  not  yet  filled  in.  What  a  grand 
field  is  there  here  for  the  ambition  of  the  student !  Perhaps 
behind  some  modest  but  determined  face,  perhaps  back  of 
some  eager  and  piercing  eyes,  to-day  lost  in  the  sea  of  faces 
that  are  turned  upward  at  mine,  is  working  the  cunning 
machinery  of  the  brain,  which  will  one  day  write  the  history 
of  America  and  win  for  some  one  here  and  for  our  old 
Dutch  city  an  immortal  crown  of  honor,  fame  and  glory. 

Mr.  Hodgson  and  Miss  Davidson  were  then  called 
to  the  platform  and  presented  with  the  beautiful  gold 
watches  chosen  by  the  committee.  The  applause  as 
they   received  the  tributes  was  hearty.      The  audi- 

206 


ence  dispersed  after  the  singing  of  the  "American 
Hymn."  The  greatest  credit  must  be  given  to  Prof. 
OHver  for  his  masterly  training  and  conducting  of  the 
chorus,  and  to  Mr.  Edward  Low,  who  so  artistically 
arranged  the  tableaux. 

The  Prize  Essays. 


Girls'  Prize. 


ALBANY  S    HISTORY    AND    GROWTH    IN  TWO    CENTURIES. 

"  Albany  was  indeed  Dutch  in  all  its  moods  and  tenses, 
thoroughly  and  inveterately  Dutch.  The  people  were 
Dutch,  the  buildings  were  Dutch,  and  even  the  dogs  were 
Dutch." 

Although  Albany,  in  1686,  had  been  under  English  rule 
more  than  twenty  years,  it  still  retained  its  Dutch  aspect. 

"  Crowns  or  thrones  might  perish, 
Kingdoms  rise  or  wane," 

but  the  old  Dutch  burgher  would  still  have  retained  his 
Dutch  ideas  and  Dutch  customs,  would  still  have  looked 
with  horror  upon  all  innovations  and  improvements  as  plots 
of  Satan  against  his  peace  and  comfort. 

"  Rocks  have  been  shaken  from  their  solid  base,"  but 
never  a  Dutchman  from  his  immovable  prejudices.  For 
more  than  a  hundred  years  did  these  doughty  mynheers 
wage  an  obstinate  fight  against  the  progressive  spirit  of  their 
English  rulers  and  neighbors.  Conquered  at  the  beginning 
of  this  century,  they  sleep  peacefully,  while  the  hated 
improvements  go  on  over  their  very  graves.  Ah  !  they 
fought  a  valiant  fight,  those  venerable  Knickerbockers  of 
by-gone  days. 

Twenty  years  before  the  English  conquest,  the  people  of 
the  province,  weary  of  Dutch  tyranny,  had  compelled  their 
governor,  Peter  Stuyvesant,  commonly  called  "  Hardkoppig 
Pieter  "  because  of  his  extreme  obstinacy,  to  surrender  to 
an  English  fleet,  which  had  appeared  in  New  York  harbor. 
The  brave  old  warrior  had  at  first  refused  to  deliver  up  the 
trust  reposed  in  him.  For  days  he  had  maintained  an 
obstinate  resistance,  during  which  he  cursed  alternately  the 
rapacity  of  the  English  invaders  and  the  stubbornness  of  his 

207 


Dutch  subjects,  who  would  neither  fight  nor  furnish  him 
with  money  or  arms  with  which  to  carry  on  the  defence  of 
the  city.  Under  such  conditions  resistance  was  in  vain, 
and  the  fierce  old  governor,  yielding  to  the  angry  threats 
of  his  subjects,  "  cowardly  poltroons,  one  and  all,"  said  he, 
accepted  the  English  terms.  Thus,  in  the  book  of  Time, 
was  written  the  first  chapter  of  Albany's  history.  This  act 
was  the  beginning  of  a  great  change,  which,  taking  place 
gradually  and  imperceptibly,  would  none  the  less  surely 
convert  a  small  and  primitive  village  into  a  large  and  flour- 
ishing city.  It  was  the  beginning  of  the  inevitable  conflict 
between  progress,  personified  in  the  English,  and  conserva- 
tism, embodied  in  the  Dutch.  No  matter  upon  what 
vantage  ground  these  two  elements  have  met,  the  victory 
has  been  ever  to  progress,  and  this  was  no  exception  to 
the  rule.  Still,  the  pithy  saying,  "  Rome  was  not  built  in 
a  day,"  might,  with  propriety,  be  applied  to  the  change 
which  took  place ;  not  suddenly  and  violently,  but  so  slowly 
and  imperceptibly  that  no  sign  of  the  gradual  wearing  away 
of  old  ideas  and  customs  and  of  new  ones  replacing  these 
was  given.  The  EngHsh  made  little  change  in  the  govern- 
ment or  laws,  but  allowed  the  Dutch  to  manage  their 
weighty  public  afiairs  in  whatsoever  manner  best  accorded 
with  their  consciences  and  their  prejudices.  An  English 
governor  replaced  Stuyvesant,  and  the  taxes  were  paid  to 
the  English  instead  of  to  the  Dutch  government.  Beyond 
this  no  outward  change  was  made. 

Shortly  before  the  English  conquest  the  Dutch,  with  an 
overwhelming  zeal  for  the  spread  of  true  worship,  had  per- 
secuted and  banished  the  Lutherans.  But  the  religious 
intolerance  of  the  Dutch  was  obnoxious  to  the  spirit  of 
English  freedom,  and  in  1669,  Governor  Lovelace,  in  a 
proclamation,  said  :  "  I  do,  therefore,  expect  that  you  live 
friendly  and  peacefully  with  those  of  that  profession,  giving 
them  no  disturbance  in  the  exercise  of  their  rehgion ; "  thus 
establishing  for  the  first  time  in  Albany  the  grand  principle 
of  religious  freedom,  a  principle  of  which  the  honest,  but 
slow  minded  Dutch,  knew  nothing. 

Shortly  after,  but  at  what  time  is  uncertain,  they  were  per- 
mitted by  the  English  to  build  a  meeting-house.  This  the 
Dutch  had  always  sternly  refused  to  permit  them  to  do. 
The  old  Dutch  Church  on  hearing  this  fairly  trembled  with 
indignation.     As  for  the  people,  their  anger  and  amazement 

208 


could  scarcely  have  been  greater  had  they  been  ordered  to 
tear  down  their  own  substantial  building  stone  by  stone. 

Notwithstanding  the  bigotry  of  the  Dutch,  they  pursued 
a  most  kind  and  liberal  policy  toward  the  Indians, — for 
policy  it  was,  as  it  was  dictated  by  self-interest.  When  his 
gains  were  concerned  the  Dutchman's  intellect  brightened. 
His  eagle  eye  for  discerning  anything  of  benefit  to  his 
trade,  soon  perceived  how  necessary  it  was  to  gain  the 
friendship  of  the  Indians.  Originally  settled  by  traders 
whose  object  had  been  to  obtain  wealth  through  the 
resources  of  a  new  country,  Albany  grew  slowly  but  surely 
through  its  trade  in  furs.  Thither  came  the  Indians  of  the 
Five  Nations,  ever  at  deadly  enmity  with  the  Canadian 
Indians  and  their  allies,  the  French,  whenever  they  had 
furs  to  sell,  to  obtain  the  trinkets  that  delighted  their  savage 
hearts ;  and  so  it  came  about  that  friendly  relations  were 
established  between  them  and  the  Dutch  to  the  advantage 
of  both,  and  also  that  they  became  allies  of  the  Dutch 
against  the  French,  who  had  always  claimed  the  New 
Netherlands  by  the  right  of  prior  discovery,  and  regarded 
the  Dutch  as  intruders  to  be  expelled.  Upon  the  first 
settlement  of  Albany,  the  Dutch  made  a  perpetual  treaty 
with  the  Indians,  which  was  kept  by  both  nations  for  over 
fifty  years,  and  never  broken.  The  English,  after  their 
conquest,  renewed  this  treaty  and  did  everything  in  their 
power  to  cement  a  firm  alliance  with  the  Indians.  Perceiv- 
ing the  important  situation  of  Albany  for  trade,  the  English 
governors,  ahke  good,  bad,  and  indifferent,  pursued  the  same 
wise  policy  with  even  greater  success  than  their  Dutch  pred- 
ecessors. With  hostile  French  and  Indians  ready  at  any 
moment  to  swoop  down  upon  the  almost  defenceless  settle- 
ment, the  freedom  from  attack  which  Albany  enjoyed 
during  a  long  and  stormy  period  was  largely  due  to  the 
alliance  and  protection  of  the  Indians  of  the  Five  Nations. 
Those  same  English  governors,  against  whom  the  colonists 
contended  so  long  and  fiercely,  builded  better  than  they 
knew,  when  they  provided  so  well  for  Albany's  safety  and 
trade,  for  by  keeping  to  the  terms  of  the  treaty  they  raised 
up  a  defence  to  the  city  stronger  than  any  wall. 

One  change  was  noticeable  after  the  English  conquest. 
Whereas  the  population  of  the  village  before  that  time  had 
consisted  of  traders  and  adventurers,  after  that  time  mechan- 
ics and  laborers  began  to  come  and  settle  permanently  there. 

209 


The  conquest  affected  Albany  but  little  during  the  first 
hundred  years  of  her  history.  Easier  was  it  for  Hercules  to 
slay  the  Nemean  lion  than  for  the  English  to  destroy  the 
prejudices  of  the  Dutch.  As  the  skin  of  the  lion  bade 
defiance  to  every  weapon,  so  the  intellect  of  the  Dutch 
could  not  be  pierced  by  any  idea.  Under  the  new  rule, 
the  Dutch  enjoyed  even  more  of  freedom  than  before,  for 
the  village  grew  more  under  English  rule  in  twenty  years 
than  under  Dutch  rule  in  fifty. 

In  the  year  1686  the  city  of  Albany  sprang  forth  fully 
epuipped  and  armed  with  the  charter,  as  did  Athena,  with 
the  y^gis  from  the  head  of  Zeus.  "  Pieter  Schuyler, 
gent.,  and  Robert  T>ivingston,  gent.,  commissionated  by 
ye  city  of  Albany "  had  been  sent  to  New  York  to 
procure  this  charter,  and  had  urged  Gov.  Dongan  to  grant 
it,  because  Albany  was  a  "  very  ancient  city,"  and  the 
inhabitants  had  already  erected,  at  their  own  expense,  a 
town  hall,  a  watch  tower  and  a  church.  After  many  "  whys  " 
and  "  wherefores,"  and  much  earnest  talking,  the  charter  was 
at  length  obtained.  The  quaint  old  records  tell  us  that  after 
the  return  of  Mynheers  Schuyler  and  Livingston,  the  char- 
ter was  published  with  "  all  ye  joy  and  acclimations  imagin- 
able." Then  in  the  most  mtensely  solemn  Dutch  way, 
Pieter  Schuyler  was  sworn  in  as  mayor,  and  Robert  Living- 
ston as  town  clerk.  No  doubt  the  good  townspeople  con- 
gratulated themselves  on  the  advance  and  prosperity  of 
Albany.  Each  stately  Dutch  burgher,  as  he  walked  the 
street,  strove  to  put  on  an  added  dignity;  the  buildings  tried 
to  increase  in  size ;  the  gable  ends  to  bristle  more  aggress- 
ively ;  while  even  the  weather-cocks  on  the  roofs  appeared 
ready  to  crow  more  lustily  than  ever  before.  If  our  Dutch 
ancestors  were  able  to  reappear  in  the  streets  of  Albany  to-day, 
what  words  could  describe  their  astonishment  at  the  changes 
made  by  the  restless  and  abhorred  Yankee  !  Their  wonder 
would  be  greater  than  was  Rip  Van  Winkle's  upon  his  reap 
pearance  in  his  native  town  at  the  end  of  his  long  slumber. 

If  we  had  visited  Albany  in  1686,  what  should  we  have 
seen  ?  After  a  long,  tedious  voyage  from  New  York,  for 
the  Dutch  skipper  was  a  Fabius  on  a  small  scale,  and 
dropped  anchor  every  night  at  sunset,  we  would  have  beheld 
a  city  whose  very  quaintness  was  refreshing  to  the  eye.  As 
we  glanced  around  we  would  have  taken  note  of  the  old 
Dutch  houses,  with  their  gable  ends  to  the  street,  and  upon 


210 


each  house  the  date  of  its  erection  in  large  curious  iron 
figures  across  the  end,  and  of  the  old  Dutch  church  standing 
in  solitary  grandeur  at  the  foot  of  State  street. 

Possibly  we  might  have  seen  Mynheer  leisurely  smoking  on 
the  front  "  stoop,"  while  his  children  played  about  the  foot  of 
it;  looking  into  the  bright  kitchen  with  its  sanded  floor,  we 
might  have  seen  his  good  Vrouw  and  daughter  preparing  the 
dinner  of  their  lord  and  master,  or  busily  engaged  in  scouring 
the  already  spotless  pots  and  pans.  We  may  have  seen  a 
dear  son,  returning  from  his  first  attempt  at  trade  with  the 
Indians,  and  may  have  heard  him  tell  of  the  perils  he  had 
undergone  and  the  bargains  he  had  made,  while  his  mother, 
woman-like,  shudders  at  the  dangers  he  has  encountered, 
and  thanks  the  good  God  who  has  preserved  her  Jacob 
uninjured.  Everything  was  primitive, — people,  streets,  man- 
ners, and  ideas.  The  bustle  and  haste  of  modern  life  had 
not  yet  touched  this  gem  of  the  antique.  Simplicity  and 
honest-hearted  kindness  were  the  chief  qualities  of  the  people. 
Everything,  both  animate  and  inanimate,  was  characterized 
by  quietness  and  quaintness. 

As  we  pass  through  the  streets  of  Albany  to-day,  two 
hundred  years  later,  what  do  we  see  ?  Glancing  around  we 
behold  the  degenerate  descendants  of  the  ancient  burghers 
jostling  each  other  in  the  streets ;  and  the  noises  heard  on 
every  side  are  bewildering.  The  old-time  inactivity  and 
slowness  has  died  a  natural  death  ;  Yankee  activity  reigns 
supreme.  Oh  !  it  is  well  that  Peter  Schuyler,  the  first  of 
Albany's  worthy  mayors,  did  not  live  to  see  the  day.  His 
very  wig  would  have  trembled  with  dismay  at  the  sight  of 
our  "  modern  improvements."  Could  he  view  the  city  he 
might  say : 

"  Once  more  I  stand,  but  now  unknown  by  sacred  Hudson's  tide, 

With  unfamiliar  scenes  around,  no  friendly  hand  to  guide, 

For  in  Albany,  forsooth,  they've  been  working  such  a  change, 

With  their  modern  innovations,  that  the  place  looks  very  strange. 

All  the  old  lanes  and  pasture  fields  with  clover  tops  so  fair, 

Are  lost  to  sight,  no  fences  left,  no  shady  bouweries  there, 

Old  places  once  so  very  dear  to  these  old  eyes  of  mine 

Are  scattered  like  the  hoar-frost  by  the  ruthless  hand  of  time. 

Old  things  have  changed  so  quickly  since  last  I  saw  the  town  ; 

The  honest  old  Dutch  customs ;  the  degenerated  race 

Has  begun  witli  its  improvements  to  wipe  out  the  old  Dutch  place. 

I  would  not  care  to  live,  and  see  such  altered  folks  and  ways, 

Since  half-doors  swung  wide  open  in  those  palmy  old  Dutch  days. 

When  streets  were  cleaned  by  private  hand,  and  all  the  city's  light 

Was  furnished  l)y  the  lanterns  hung  from  each  tenth  house  in  sight." 

211 


"  Yet,  call  not  each  glorious  change  decay,"  though  Peter 
Schuyler,  should  he  see  the  city,  might  lament  the  passing 
away  of  the  olden  time,  even  he  must  acknowledge  that 
Albany  has  changed  for  the  better. 

No  longer  in  need  of  stockades  for  her  defence,  she  lives 
in  peace  and  grows  in  prosperity ;  no  longer  the  worthy 
Dutchman  discourses  at  the  street  corner  the  price  of  beaver 
skins  or  exults  over  his  latest  bargain.  All,  all  is  gone,  even 
old  Albany  herself  has  disappeared.  Well  may  our  hearts 
swell  with  pride,  as  Albany  is  seen  stretching  over  her  many 
hills,  and  the  numerous  evidences  of  her  growth  and  prosperity 
are  beheld.  Proud  is  Albany  to-day  of  her  City  Hall,  which 
has  replaced  the  ancient  Stadt-house ;  of  her  Capitol,  which 
towers  so  grandly  at  the  head  of  State  Street ;  a  landmark  for 
many  miles  around  ;  of  the  High  School  and  the  other  public 
schools,  which  shows  what  Albany  is  doing  for  the  cause  of 
free  education ;  of  the  many  other  public  buildings  which  have 
replaced  the  old  and  worn-out  structures  ;  of  the  city  itself  as 
it  stands  to-day,  an  advance  and  improvement  upon  the  one 
which  the  old  Dutch  burghers  called  Albany. 

The  old  Dutch  burgher  was  stoHd  and  substantial,  with 
an  unutterable  contempt  of  all  useless  haste  Honest,  sober, 
frugal,  industrious,  he  had  many  virtues  and  few  vices. 
Yet  like  the  Greek  hero  Achilles,  he  was  vulnerable  in  one 
point,  his  pocket.  A  bargain  to  a  Dutchman  was  a  joy 
forever.  As  far  as  the  rays  of  his  light  stretched,  he  was 
honest,  but  his  ideas  of  honesty  were  not  as  strict  as  those 
of  his  Yankee  neighbors,  and  his  love  of  driving  a  sharp 
bargain  occasionally  led  him  into  questionable  dealings  with 
the  Indians.  Yet,  in  justice  to  the  Dutch,  it  must  be  said, 
that  the  strictest  laws  were  enacted  and  enforced  against 
dishonest  trading.  Indeed,  the  utmost  strictness  of  life, 
manners,  and  morals  prevailed  in  those  days.  The  simplicity 
of  the  people  was  remarkable.  Unpretentious  and  unam- 
bitious, their  wants  were  easily  satisfied.  One  who  hved  for 
many  years  among  the  Dutch  says  of  them  :  "  The  very 
idea  of  being  ashamed  of  anything  that  was  neither  vicious 
nor  indecent,  never  entered  an  Albanian  head."  The 
desire  for  show  and  display,  so  prominent  in  the  life  of 
modern  American  cities,  was  entirely  wanting.  The  fickle 
goddess  fashion  had  no  worshippers  among  them. 

By  their  manners  and  customs  must  the  civilization  of  a 
people  be  judged,  and  as  we  read  of  the  honest,  true  life  of 


212 


the   Dutch  settlers  our  respect   and  admiration  for  them 
increase. 

The  typical  Dutchman  was  not  only  unchangeable  in  his 
ideas,  but  the  thought  of  changing  had  not  even  entered  his 
mind.  Not  easily  moved  to  anger  or  strong  emotion  of 
any  kind,  he  neither  could,  nor  would,  become  an  enthusiast 
on  any  subject.  As  he  was  slow  in  thought,  so  was  he  also 
slow  in  speech  and  motion. 

In  former  days  it  took  a  Dutch  captain  more  than  a  week 
to  go  to  New  York.  Very  likely  the  Dutch  skipper  would 
still  be  sailing  up  and  down  the  Hudson,  taking  a  week  for 
each  trip,  if  an  enterprising  Yankee  had  not  invented  the 
steamboat.  When  Fulton,  in  1807,  ran  his  first  steamboat 
from  New  York,  he  caused  one  of  the  changes  which  were 
to  develop  Albany  in  spite  of  herself  We  can  readily 
believe  that,  when  the  steamboat  arrived  at  Albany,  the 
people  crowded  to  see  the  great  wonder,  and  pressing  con- 
tinuously forward,  gazed  upon  the  puffing  monster,  and 
ventured  many  wise  opinions  as  to  the  impossibility  of  its 
making  a  second  trip,  while  the  more  superstitious  made 
anxious  suggestions  that  it  might  be  bewitched.  The  Dutch 
were  slow  in  receiving  new  ideas.  The  Dutchman  could 
maintain  an  obstinate  resistance,  but  could  never  act  aggres- 
sively. According  to  the  old  adage  "  nothing  venture, 
nothing  have,"  he  would  have  remained  poor  all  his  days, 
if  opportunities  for  making  money  had  not  knocked  at  his 
very  door.  Like  the  animal  whose  skin  he  sought  to  obtain, 
he  heaped  together  his  wealth.  As  the  beaver  builds  his 
dam  slowly  and  perseveringly,  so  the  Dutchman  accumulated 
a  fortune. 

Though  the  Dutch  were  not  fanatics,  yet  in  their  own 
calm,  quiet  way  they  were  strongly  attached  to  the  religion 
for  which  their  fathers  had  bled  and  died.  After  the  colony 
had  become  firmly  established,  in  1642,  they  erected  a 
church,  a  wooden  building,  which  is  said  to  have  cost  the 
magnificent  sum  of  thirty-two  dollars.  It  contained  a  pulpit 
ornamented  with  a  canopy,  pews  for  the  magistrates  and 
deacons,  and  nine  benches  for  the  congregation.  The  Rev. 
Johannes  Megapolensis,  a  "pious  and  well-learned  minister," 
was  invited  to  become  the  shepherd  of  the  Beaverwyck 
sheep.  This  church  was  used  by  the  faithful  till  1656,  when 
the  city  fathers  caused  a  stone  church  to  be  erected.  Tradi- 
tion saith  that  its  walls  were  carried  up  around  those  of  the 


213 


old  church,  and  service  was  only  interrupted  for  three 
Sundays.  The  building,  a  fortress  in  itself,  was  a  quaint, 
old-fashioned  structure,  which  was  used  till  17 15,  when  it 
was  in  turn  replaced  by  a  new  one.  Like  the  Puritans,  the 
Dutch  worshipped  their  Maker  with  arms  at  their  sides. 
Alas !  that  the  church,  that  most  revered  relic  of  the  past, 
has  disappeared  !  Methinks 

"  I  see  the  pulpit  high,  an  octagon ; 

Its  pedestal,  doop-huisje  and  winding  stair  ; 

And  room  within  for  one,  and  one  alone. 

A  canopy  above,  suspended  there. 

No  spire,  no  bell,  but  'neath  the  eaves  a  porch, 

With  trumpet  hung  to  summon  all  to  church ; 

Till  innovation  brought  stoves,  bell,  and  spire. 

Floors,  straight-backed  pews,  vorleeser  and  a  choir." 

From  this  pulpit  many  gifted  and  eloquent  divines  de- 
nounced the  sins  and  errors  of  their  people,  and  often  ad- 
ministered public  reproofs  to  offenders.  The  Rev.  Johannes 
Megapolensis,  Dominie  Frelinghuysen,  who  came  to  such  a 
sad  end,  and  "  Our  Westerloo,"  the  beloved  of  his  flock, 
exhorted  the  stolid  Dutch  from  this  place. 

On  the  front  of  the  pulpit  was  placed  an  hour-glass,  when 
the  dominie  began  his  sermon,  and  he  would  have  been 
found  wanting  if  he  had  preached  less  than  an  hour.  In 
the  midst  of  his  sermon  he  would  suddenly  pause,  and  the 
deacons  rising  would  take  a  small  bag  containing  a  little 
bell  and  attached  to  the  end  of  a  staff.  "  The  tinkle  of  the 
bell  roused  the  sleepy  and  diverted  the  busy  thoughts  of  the 
trader  from  musk-rat  and  beaver  skins."  The  bags  with 
their  load  of  coppers  and  half-joes  being  duly  replaced,  the 
dominie  resumed  the  broken  thread  of  his  discourse.  The 
collections,  out  of  which  the  church  poor  were  supported, 
were  always  surprisingly  large  when  the  size  of  the  congre- 
gations is  considered. 

This  church,  standing  in  the  middle  of  the  street  and 
"  looking  as  if  it  had  been  wheeled  out  of  line  by  the 
giants  of  old  and  there  left,  or  had  dropped  from  the  clouds 
in  a  dark  night  and  stuck  fast,"  was  enshrined  in  every  Dutch 
heart.  The  oldest  recollection  of  each  person  about  his 
childhood  was  of  going  to  this  church  every  Sunday.  Even 
till  long  after  the  year  1800  it  was  filled  with  the  devout 
Dutch  who,  still  clinging  to  the  worship  of  their  ancestors, 
gathered  here  every  Lord's  day.  In  the  year  1816,  amid 
groans  and  lamentations  on  every  side,  it  was  demolished, 

214 


and  the  materials  were  used  for  building  the  church  in  Beaver 
Street.  The  Dutch,  though  not  as  stern  and  strict  as  the 
people  of  New  England,  were  faithful  and  conscientious  in 
performing  their  rehgious  duties.  They  were  devoted  exclu- 
sively to  the  doctrines  and  practices  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

"  They  had  this  much, — 
The  gospel  undefiled  in  Holland  Dutch." 

The  Dutch  retained  the  customs  which  they  had  brought 
from  Holland,  till  long  after  the  Revolution  ;  celebrated  the 
same  festivals ;  worshiped  in  the  same  way  ;  and  ate,  drank, 
walked,  and  slept  after  the  fashion  of  their  ancestors.  They 
paid  little  honor  to  Keestijd  (Christmas)  but  Nieuwjaarsdag 
was  the  most  important  in  the  year.  It  was  the  day  of  the 
good  St.  Nicholas,  the  children's  friend,  the  jolly,  fat,  roister- 
ing little  man,  the  lover  of  ease  and  plenty,  the  giver  of  all 
good  gifts,  who  made  his  appearance  then,  sometimes  having 
his  good  vrouw  Molly  Grietje  with  him.  Had  we  entered 
one  of  the  houses  in  the  evening  before  New  Years'  Day,  we 
would  have  seen  the  children  gathered  before  the  large  fire- 
place, hand-in-hand  beseeching  him  for  gifts.  The  day  was 
celebrated  with  all  the  ancient  Dutch  hospitality  and  warm- 
heartedness. Then,  as  now  it  was  a  day  of  hearty  good 
wishes.  Every  door  was  thrown  open  to  visitors,  the  rooms 
were  draped  with  orange,  the  national  color,  and  refresh- 
ments were  served  to  all.  An  air  of  comfort  characterized 
the  Dutch  homes.  No  one  was  either  very  rich,  or  very 
poor;  an  equality  of  condition  belonged  to  all.  As  they 
increased  in  wealth,  the  burghers  began  to  import  clothing, 
handsome  furniture,  and  silver.  The  houses  were  built  of 
Holland  brick,  and  the  roofs  covered,  with  shingles,  were 
pamted  in  bright  colors. 

A  pleasant  place  was  the  old  kitchen,  with  its  shining 
sanded  floor,  marked  with  figures  traced  with  a  broom  stick  ; 
the  rafter-covered  ceiling,  its  large  chimney-place,  around 
which  were  hung  the  housekeeper's  array  of  pots  and  pans, 
and  the  warm  fire-light  glowing  over  all,  and  diftusing  an 
air  of  comfort.  Here  gathered  the  household  every  evening 
while  the  Jufvrouw  spun  her  linen  and  Mynheer  smoked  his 
pipe.  On  the  settle  by  the  fireplace  sat  Grandmother  with 
the  little  Dutch  lads  and  lasses  clustering  around  her,  hsten- 
ing  with  bated  breath  to  her  legends  of  Hendrick  Hudson 
and  his  followers,  or  the  tales  of  the  time  when  she  was  a 

215 


girl  in  Holland.  How  the  hearts  of  the  little  people  must 
have  quaked  with  fear,  as  they  heard  of  the  many  unfor- 
tunates who,  having  wandered  into  the  mountains,  had  been 
bewitched  by  the  spirits  there.  It  was  the  earnest  desire  of 
all  parents  that  their  children  should  grow  up  faithful  and 
pious.  In  recording  tlie  birth  of  Pieter  Schuyler,  his 
parents  said  :  "  May  the  Lord  let  him  grow  up  in  virtue  to 
his  salvation.  Amen."  Their  wish  was  granted,  for  their 
son  was  a  deacon  of  the  church  before  his  twenty-fifth  year. 

An  octavo  volume  would  not  suffice  in  which  to  tell  of  all 
the  queer  old  Dutch  customs  and  ideas.  Many  of  the  laws 
enacted  by  the  Common  Council  show  clearly  how  quaint 
was  old  Dutch  life.  As  an  instance  of  the  strictness  of  those 
times,  we  see  the  following  law  set  down  in  the  old  records : 

"  Whereas,  ye  children  of  said  city,  to  ye  shame  and 
scandal  of  their  parents  do  ryde  down  ye  hills  with  small  and 
great  slees ;  for  preventing  ye  same  it  is  hereby  published 
and  declared  that  it  shall  be  lawful  for  any  constable  in  this 
city  to  take  any  slee  or  slees  from  all  such  boys  or  girls 
ryding  or  offering  to  ryde  down  any  hill  in  this  city,  and 
break  any  such  slee  or  slees  in  pieces  !  "  Which  was  forth- 
with done  to  the  dire  dismay  of  ye  said  boys  and  girls.  It 
has  been  said  by  their  detractors  that  the  Dutch  were 
immovable,  but  'tis  false.  Moving  day,  that  day  of  terrors 
to  every  well  regulated  mind,  was  even  then  the  first  of 
May.  Many  other  customs  belonging  to  the  olden  times 
still  cling  to  Albany  to-day. 

So  time  went  on  with  the  Dutch  ever  behind  it,  and  at 
the  beginning  of  the  Revolution  Albany  had  scarcely 
changed  any  since  its  birth  as  a  city.  Would  this  rouse  the 
sleepy  burghers  ?  No,  not  even  were  the  stirring  events  of 
this  glorious  time  sufficient  to  awaken  the  Dutch  to  enthu- 
siasm. The  fortifications  of  the  city  were  strengthened,  and 
the  inhabitants  stayed  safely  at  home.  Yet  a  few  patriotic 
citizens,  some  by  contributing  arms  and  many  others  by 
giving  themselves,  helped  on  the  good  cause.  The  most 
notable  among  these  was  Gen.  Philip  Schuyler,  a  statesman, 
patriot,  and  soldier,  a  man  of  talent  and  honor,  of  whom  the 
city  of  his  birth  is  justly  proud.  Distinguished  alike  in  war 
and  peace,  he  was  one  of  the  most  noted  of  that  band  of 
Revolutionary  heroes,  who  defended  the  liberty  of  their 
country  so  bravely  and  well. 

Up  to  this  time  Albany  had  resisted  the  attacks  of  prog- 

2l6 


ress.  "  Old  as  it  was  it  still  retained  its  primitive  aspect, 
and  still  stood  in  all  its  original  simplicity,  unchanged, 
unmodified,  unimproved,  still  pertinaciously  adhering  in  all 
its  walks  to  the  old  track  and  the  old  form.  The  rude  hand 
of  innovation  was  then  just  beginning  to  be  felt ;  and  slight 
as  was  the  touch,  it  was  regarded  as  an  injury,  or  resented 
as  an  insult." 

At  the  end  of  the  Revolution,  induced  by  Albany's  favor- 
able situation  for  trade,  the  Yankees  invaded  the  sleepy 
town.  Stoutly  did  the  Dutch  resist  the  intruders,  bravely 
did  they  fall,  victims  of  modern  improvements. 

Among  the  curiosities  of  the  city  were  the  water-spouts, 
long  wooden  gutters  which  projected  six  or  seven  feet  from 
the  roof  over  the  sidewalk,  making  it  impossible  for  any  one 
to  pass  under  them  without  receiving  in  its  most  literal  sense, 
a  shower-bath.  The  Dutch  with  their  usual  obtuseness 
clung  to  the  water-spouts,  and  had  not  discovered  in  two 
hundred  years,  the  uselessness  of  these  appendages.  But 
the  quick-witted  Yankees  soon  tried  to  abolish  these  rem- 
nants of  Dutch  slowness.  Obtaining  a  majority  in  the 
Common  Council,  a  ruthless  order  was  sent  to  each  sturdy 
burgher,  accompanied  by  a  hand-saw,  and  further  enforced 
by  a  fine  of  405',  to  cut  down  his  water-spouts.  Then  indeed 
wonder  and  dismay  filled  the  Dutch  camp.  What !  cut 
down  their  own  spouts,  which  their  forefathers  had  brought 
from  Holland.  Never  !  but  the  fine  pricked  the  Dutch  in 
their  tenderest  point,  and  as  it  was  of  no  use  to  kick  against 
the  pricks,  each  valorous  citizen  succumbed.  "  From  this 
time  a  restless  leveling  spirit  prevailed  throughout  the  city." 

But  a  short  time  and  we  will  celebrate  Albany's  Two 
Hundredth  Birthday  with  merry-making  and  feasting,  and  by 
entertaining  hordes  of  country  cousins.  Every  object  will 
be  shown  which  will  tend  to  display  the  greatness  of  Albany  to 
the  eyes  of  our  own  visitors,  for  Albanian  hearts  are  filled  with 
sudden  and  mighty  pride,  and  great  is  their  feeling  of  exalta- 
tion. And  they  have  just  reason  to  be  proud  of  Albany,  so 
rich  in  historical  associations,  which  has  the  memory  of  so 
many  great  men  to  be  proud  of.  "  Dearest  art  thou  for  the 
years  that  have  flown."  Thither  was  brought  Lord  Howe's 
body,  after  his  death,  for  burial ;  here  Washington  and  La 
Fayette  were  received  with  great  demonstrations  of  joy  and 
respect;  here  passed  the  bodies  of  Lincoln  and  Grant;  here 
was  made  the  first  attempt  at  union ;  for  in  1 754  a  Continental 


217 


Congress  met  at  Albany,  composed  of  delegates  from  almost 
all  the  colonies,  to  form  a  plan  for  their  closer  union. 
Through  the  tireless  efforts  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  its  presi- 
dent, a  plan  was  adopted,  but  Great  Britain,  influenced  by 
jealousy  of  the  increasing  power  of  the  young  colonies, 
refused  her  consent  to  a  closer  union,  and  thus  hastened 
their  revolt  against  tyranny.  It  has  been  said  "  coming 
events  cast  their  shadows  before."  Surely  this  unsuccessful 
attempt  was  the  shadow  of  the  glorious  union  of  the  States, 
which  was  afterward  to  take  place. 

In  spite  of  the  prejudice  of  the  Dutch,  it  is  to  Yankee 
enterprise,  restrained  by  Dutch  conservatism,  that  this  city 
owes  its  prosperity.  The  quickness,  energy,  and  ambition 
of  the  Yankee  did  much  for  Albany,  yet  the  sloAvness  of 
the  Dutch  often  held  him  back,  when  his  ambition  might 
have  been  dangerous  to  the  city.  The  jirosperity  of  Albany, 
which  was  built  by  the  Yankee,  on  a  Dutch  foundation,  is 
firm  to  endure. 

In  the  year  1797,  when  Albany  became  the  capital  of 
New  York  State,  the  little  Dutch  city  was  doomed  to  prosper 
in  spite  of  herself.  Trade  would  come  to  her,  she  could  not 
drive  it  from  her  door  and  retain  her  reputation  of  hospitality. 
After  that  year  her  growth  was  comparatively  rapid.  Yet, 
let  us  not  be  exalted.  When  compared  with  that  of  Western 
cities,  of  even  less  favorable  situation,  her  growth  has  been 
slow.  The  city  grew,  because  the  trade  of  the  West  passed 
through  her.  As  the  West  developed,  Albany  increased  in 
wealth.  The  Erie  Canal  conduced  greatly  to  the  prosperity 
of  Albany,  for  it  benefited  her  as  much  as  it  did  New  York. 
From  the  date  of  the  completion  of  this  enterprise  must  the 
rapid  growth  of  Albany  be  said  to  begin.  Perchance 
it  may  be  thought  by  some,  that  the  Dutch  have  been 
slandered.  I  honor  and  reverence  those  who  braved  the 
dangers  of  a  new  land  and  raised  a  city  in  the  wilderness, 
whose  honest,  true  hearts  knew  neither  pretense  nor  evil. 
Though  they  had  their  faults  and  foibles,  yet  in  these 
degenerate  days,  where  can  be  found  a  people  so  worthy  of 
admiration  as  they  ?  Their  blood  was  the  same  as  that 
which  ran  in  the  veins  of  those  heroes  who  so  bravely 
resisted  Spanish  tyranny  and  fought  for  their  liberty  and 
faith.  It  was  in  the  same  spirit  of  heroism  and  endurance 
that  the  settlers  bore  so  staunchly  all  the  trials  and  privations 
of  a  pioneer's  life.     From   1800,  the  history  of  Albany  is 

218 


like  that  of  any  American  city  in  the  nineteenth  century. 

It  might  be  written  in  one  word — "  progress." 
Janetza  Van  Schaack, 
Elizabeth  Griswold  Davidson. 

Boys'  Prize. 


Albany's  history  and  growth  in  two  centuries. 

Let  your  imagination  carry  you  back  three  hundred  years 
and  let  your  fancy  paint  the  present  site  of  Albany,  as  it  then 
existed.  Picture  to  yourself,  if  you  can,  the  broad  and 
stately  Hudson,  then  called  by  the  Indians  in  their  musical 
tongue,  the  Cohotatea,  rolling  onward  toward  the  sea  in  its 
serpentine  course,  between  gracefully  sloping  hills  covered 
with  oaks,  pines,  elms  and  other  forest  trees.  No  grand 
and  massive  capitol  then  loomed  up  from  its  western  bank, 
like  the  castle  of  a  giant  amid  the  dwellings  of  a  liliputian 
city,  but  in  its  stead  the  council  fires  of  many  a  now  extinct 
race  probably  burned.  The  agile  deer  had  their  haunts 
where  our  busiest  thorough -fares  now  are,  and  the  beaver 
built  his  dam  in  the  many  little  creeks,  which  mingle 
their  waters  with  the  Hudson's  to  this  day.  Silence  every- 
where held  its  sway,  save  when  broken  by  the  occasional 
war-whoop  of  contending  nations,  or  by  the  wild  cries  of 
the  denizens  of  the  forest.  Such  was  the  nature  and 
character  of  the  district  and  surrounding  country,  upon 
which,  our  city  has  been  founded  and  reared. 

After  the  discovery  of  America  by  Columbus,  several 
other  European  nations  fitted  out  fleets  and  sent  them  to 
the  New  World  for  the  purpose  of  discovery  and  exploration, 
Verrazzani  commanded  one  of  the  expeditions  dispatched 
by  France  and  in  1524,  explored  the  eastern  coast  of 
America  from  North  Carolina  to  Nova  Scotia  and  also,  it  is 
claimed,  discovered  the  Hudson.  This  latter  is  disputed, 
but  however  it  may  be,  when  the  Dutch  came  up  the  river, 
they  found  the  ruins  of  a  chateau  or  fort  upon  an  island 
just  below  the  site  of  Albany,  which  proved  the  French 
must  have  been  aware  of  the  existence  of  the  river  and 
had,  no  doubt,  come  there  to  trade  with  savages  for  furs. 

Early  in  1607,  Henry  Hudson  set  sail  from  Holland  in  the 
ship  Half  Moon,  to  find  a  shorter  passage  to  Asia  than  the 
one  discovered  by  Magellan,  around  the  southern  extremity 
of  the  continent.     He  had  heard  from  the  John  Smith  of 

219 


Pocohontas  renown,  that  a  little  north  of  Virginia,  was  a 
great  inland  sea  extending  to  the  East  Indies.  Acting  upon 
this  information,  Hudson  sailed  to  America  and  followed  the 
coast  from  Newfoundland  to  New  York  bay,  which  he 
entered.  He  then  proceeded  up  the  river  for  two  or  three 
days  and  finally  anchored  near  the  site  of  Albany,  while  he 
dispatched  his  mate  in  a  boat  several  miles  farther  up  the 
river,  but  the  officer  returned  in  a  few  hours  with  the  news 
that  the  channel  grew  narrower  and  shallower,  the  further  the 
boat  advanced.  The  next  day,  convinced  of  the  falsity  of 
Smith's  statements,  Hudson  reluctantly  weighed  anchor 
and,  dropping  down  the  river  returned  to  Holland. 

In  the  following  year,  instigated  by  the  reports  of  the 
sailors,  who  had  accompanied  Hudson,  a  number  of  capital- 
ists sent  a  vessel  to  the  river  discovered  by  him,  and  obtained 
a  rich  cargo  of  furs.  Several  other  ventures  were  made  with 
hke  results  and  in  1614  a  trading  post  was  established  at 
Manhattan  Island,  and  another  also,  upon  an  island  just 
below  this  city.  The  latter  structure  was  destroyed  by  a 
freshet  and  a  fort  was  then  built  upon  the  western  bank  of 
the  river,  near  the  present  locality  of  the  steamboat  landing. 

About  this  time  the  Dutch  West  India  company  was 
organized  and  to  promote  colonization,  issued  a  proclama- 
tion to  the  eliect,  that  whoever  should  plant  a  colony  of  fifty 
persons,  over  fifteen  years  of  age,  would  be  made  a  patroon 
and  would  be  granted  a  tract  of  land  extending  sixteen 
miles  along  one  bank  of  the  river,  or  eight  miles  along  both, 
said  tract  to  extend  an  indefinite  distance  into  the  interior. 
Kilian  Van  Rensselaer  was  the  first  to  become  a  patroon 
and  he  took  up  his  land  on  both  sides  of  the  Hudson,  about 
Fort  Orange.  He  afterward  took  up  more  large  tracts  and 
also,  united  himself  with  other  patroons  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  become  the  head  of  a  little  government  of  his  own. 
The  colony  at  New  Amsterdam  began  to  grow  jealous  of 
the  power  of  Van  Rensselaer  and  claims  were  made  therefore 
to  Fort  Orange  and  all  the  adjoining  land  within  cannon 
shot,  on  the  ground  that  the  houses  of  the  settlers  being 
built  close  to  the  walls,  would,  in  case  of  an  Indian  attack, 
shelter  the  assailants,  to  the  detriment  of  the  besieged  within 
the  fort.  After  much  quarreling  and  almost  fighting,  between 
the  patroon's  agent  and  sturdy,  old  Peter  Stuyvesant,  the 
governor  of  New  Amsterdam,  the  matter  was  decided  in  the 
latter's  favor. 


220 


The  rich  province  of  New  Netherland  had  long  been 
looked  upon  by  the  English  widi  covetous  eyes,  and  in  1664, 
that  nation  declared  the  colony  was  included  in  their  pos- 
sessions, by  virtue  of  the  discoveries  and  explorations  of  the 
Cabots  in  1498,  and  also  that  it  was  part  of  the  territory 
granted  to  Raleigh  in  1584  by  Queen  Elizabeth.  There- 
fore, in  1664,  the  merry  Charles  II.  gave  the  New  Nether- 
lands to  his  brother  the  duke  of  York  and  Albany,  and  to 
make  the  gift  good,  a  number  of  vessels  of  war  were  sent 
to  take  formal  possession  of  the  country,  which  was  done 
without  bloodshed.  The  name  New  Amsterdam,  was 
changed  to  New  York,  and  Fort  Orange  or  Beverwyck  was 
called  Albany.  No  alterations  were  made  in  the  government 
or  laws  of  the  colony,  except  that  an  English  governor 
superseded  Stuyvesant.  Everything  under  the  new  adminis- 
tration ran  along  quietly,  with  the  exception  of  occasional 
troubles  with  the  French  and  Indians,  until  1672,  when  war 
was  again  declared  between  Holland  and  England.  One 
year  later  a  Dutch  fleet  appeared  before  New  York  and 
forced  the  English  to  capitulate  ;  but  the  triumph  was  short- 
lived, for  in  the  following  year,  the  Dutch  were  once  more 
compelled  to  yield  to  the  English. 

In  the  spring  of  1686,  while  Governor  Dongan  was  at 
Albany,  he  was  solicited  by  the  leading  inhabitants  to  incor- 
porate the  village  as  a  city.  This  he  did  on  the  2 2d  day  of 
July,  1686.  From  this  time  up  to  the  close  of  the  French 
and  Indian  war,  the  history  of  our  city  is  an  account  of  the 
numerous  incursions  of  the  French  and  their  native  allies  on 
the  one  hand,  and  the  counter  raids  of  the  Mohawks  upon 
the  Canadian  settlements  on  the  other ;  both  France  and 
England  desiring  the  Ohio  valley  country  and  the  entire  fur 
trade  thereof.  This  trouble  was  finally  settled  when  Canada 
passed  into  the  hands  of  the  English. 

The  period  extending  from  1763  to  1774  marks  the  grad- 
ual alienation  of  the  colonies  from  the  mother  country.  A 
desire  for  greater  liberty  and  freedom  from  restraint  had 
begun  to  spring  up  in  the  breasts  of  the  colonists,  and  this, 
together  with  such  obnoxious  measures  as  the  "  Stamp  act," 
the  tax  upon  tea  and  other  taxes  of  like  nature,  was  the 
direct  cause  of  the  revolution.  In  1775,  war  was  declared 
with  Great  Britain,  and  from  the  first,  Albany  and  New 
York,  on  account  of  their  central  positions  between  the  two 
great  fields  of  the  contest,  were  points  of  strategy  much 


221 


desired  by  the  British.  If  both  of  these  places  could  have 
been  taken  by  the  English,  the  forces  of  Washington  would 
have  been  separated,  and  the  complete  subjuation  of  our 
forefathers  would  have  been  only  a  matter  of  time.  But 
Albany  did  not  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  British  ;  Burgoyne 
was  defeated  and  captured,  and  he  visited,  as  a  prisoner, 
the  place  he  had  intended  to  enter  as  a  conqueror.  After 
the  war  the  people  returned  to  their  homes  and  engaged  in 
various  mercantile  and  agricultural  pursuits,  so  much  so  in 
the  latter  however,  that  Albany  soon  became  noted  as  a 
grain  mart. 

Three  years  after  the  signing  of  the  treaty  of  peace,  our 
city  celebrated  its  hundredth  anniversary  commemorating  its 
incorporation  as  a  city.  A  grand  parade  was  held  in  which 
all  the  city  officers  and  the  various  civic  and  military  organi- 
zations participated.  After  the  line  had  been  broken,  the 
ceremonies  were  completed  by  their  adjourning  to  the  city 
tavern  where  they  regaled  themselves  with  all  the  delicacies 
of  the  season. 

In  the  year  1797,  during  the  governorship  of  John  Jay, 
the  seat  of  the  State  government  was  transferred  from  New 
York  to  Albany,  which  has  been  ever  since  and  will  prob- 
ably continue  to  be,  the  capital  city. 

1799  was  a  memorable  year  for  this  country,  for  at  its 
close  it  left  the  nation  plunged  in  sorrow.  General  George 
Washington,  the  "  Saviour  of  his  country,"  and  twice  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  on  the  14th  day  of  December 
passed  from  the  scenes  of  this  world  to  those  of  a  better. 
At  this  period  of  national  grief,  our  city  showed  by  its  con- 
duct its  love  and  respect  for  the  departed  hero.  When  the 
sad  tidings  reached  Albany,  the  common  council  met  and 
ordered  the  bells  to  be  tolled,  minute  guns  fired,  and  also 
that  crape  should  be  worn  by  the  members  of  the  council 
for  a  suitable  period.  The  churches  were  draped  and  the 
flags  upon  all  the  public  buildings  floated  at  half  mast,  and 
on  the  9th  day  of  January  a  funeral  pageant  passed  through 
the  streets  of  the  city  in  honor  of  the  dead  warrior  and 
statesman. 

In  1805,  the  old  Dutch  church,  which  had  stood  so  long 
at  the  intersection  of  State  and  Market  (Broadway)  streets, 
was  torn  down  and  the  material  used  in  the  construction  of 
the  South  Dutch  church  on  Beaver  street.  Of  the  former 
edifice  only  the  stone  which  marked  the  threshold  was  left. 


222 


This  remained  in  its  place  until  some  years  ago,  when,  for 
some  reason  or  other,  it  was  removed.  I  think  a  relic  so 
frought  with  historical  associations  ought  to  be  restored  by 
the  city  government,  and  proper  precautions  taken  to  pre- 
serve it,  for  it  would  be  an  object  of  interest  to  both  citizens 
and  strangers,  especially  during  the  coming  Bi-centennial. 

Two  years  later  the  Clermont  was  constructed  and  launched 
at  New  York  by  Robert  Fulton.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
the  great  epoch  of  steam  navigation,  and  for  many  years  the 
above  named  vessel  plied  between  Albany  and  New  York, 
the  only  steamboat  in  the  world. 

In  the  following  year  the  old  State  capitol,  which  was 
demolished  a  few  years  since,  was  erected.  This,  in  its  day, 
was  regarded  as  one  of  the  finest  public  buildings  in  the 
United  States. 

In  1817,  an  act  was  passed  authorizing  the  construction 
of  a  water-way  between  the  great  lakes  and  the  Atlantic 
ocean.  The  work  was  begun  shortly  after,  and  in  1825  the 
great  Erie  canal  was  finished.  The  second  day  of  Novem- 
ber was  made  a  grand  gala  day  in  honor  of  its  completion. 
After  a  great  river  parade,  and  military  review  amid  the 
booming  of  cannons,  a  banquet  was  held,  during  which  "  red  " 
wine  was  "  looked  upon  "  freely. 

From  this  time  up  to  the  present  year,  Albany  has  steadily 
increased  in  size  and  resources.  It  might  be  interesting  to 
show  the  city's  growth  in  figures.  In  1714,  there  were  eleven 
hundred  thirty-six  inhabitants;  in  1800,  five  thousand  three 
hundred  forty- nine ;  in  1850,  fifty  thousand  seven  hundred 
sixty-three;  and  in  1880,  there  were  ninety  thousand  nine 
hundred  three.  Thus  we  see  that  the  population  of  our 
city  has  increased  ten  fold  in  the  last  eighty  years.  But 
Albany  has  made  progress  in  other  ways  also.  Since  the 
construction  of  the  Erie  canal,  a  great  railroad,  extending 
from  New  York  to  Buffalo,  has  been  built,  which,  passing 
through  our  city,  adds  greatly  to  its  commercial  importance. 
At  West  Albany,  a  suberb  of  the  city,  the  immense  shops 
of  the  above  mentioned  railroad  are  located,  where  all  their 
engines  and  cars  are  manufactured  and  repaired,  furnishing 
employment  to  hundreds  of  workingmen.  In  another 
section  of  the  city,  known  as  the  Eumber  district,  vast  quanti- 
ties of  timber  are  annually  bought  and  sold  ;  and  in  fact,  our 
city  has  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  largest  lumber 
centres  in  this  part  of  the  country. 


223 


Albany's  fame  does  not  rest,  like  that  of  many  cities,  upon 
some  one  brilliant  event  or  achievement,  but  upon  a  series 
of  events,  which  constitute  its  history.  Although  our  city 
has  figured  rather  prominently  in  the  colonial  and  revolu- 
tionary wars,  yet  its  inhabitants  have  never  seen  a  besieging 
army  encamped  about  it.  All  hostile  commanders  who  have 
ever  commenced  a  campaign  with  this  city  as  their  destina- 
tion have  only  entered  it  as  a  prisoner  of  war  instead  of  as 
a  conqueror  at  the  head  of  a  victorious  army. 

In  a  few  short  months  our  city  will  celebrate  its  two  hun- 
dredth birthday,  and,  as  was  done  one  hundred  years  ago, 
the  matter  was  referred  to  the  common  council,  and  as  the 
centennial  celebration  of  the  city's  incorporation  was  the 
greatest  affair  of  the  kind  ever  witnessed  in  this  country  at 
the  time,  so  it  is  intended  to  make  the  Bi-centennial  no  ex- 
ception to  the  rule.  Many  plans  have  been  devised  and 
submitted  to  the  committee  appointed,  and  of  these  the  best 
have  been  chosen  and  amended  and  a  programme  made 
out,  which,  according  to  report,  will  eclipse  any  preceding 
atfair  of  a  similar  nature  and  be  second  only  to  the  great 
centennial  celebration  at  Philadelphia  in  1876. 

COHOTATEA. 


Grand   Parade  of   Manufacturers,  Tradesmen 
AND  Mechanics. 


trades'    DAY   parade. 
Gen.  Warner  issued  the  following  general  orders : 
Headquarters  Trades'  Day  Parade,  1 
Albany,  July  15,  1886.  > 

General  Orders  No.  6 : 

I.  The  route  of  march  will  be  as  follows :  State, 
North  Pearl,  Clinton  avenue,  Lexington  avenue, 
Washington  avenue,  Eagle,  State,  Willett,  Hudson 
avenue  to  Broadway. 

II.  First  division,  Capt.  Thomas  J.  Dowling,  assist- 
ant marshal,  in  charge,  will  form  on  west  side  of  North 

224 


Broadway,  right  resting  on  State  street.  Second 
division,  Major  Lewis  Balch,  assistant  marshal,  in 
charge,  will  form  on  east  side  of  South  Broadway, 
right  resting  on  State  street.  Third  division.  Col. 
Alexander  Strain,  assistant  marshal,  in  charge,  will 
form  on  Green  street,  right  resting  on  State  street. 
Fourth  division,  Capt.  Morton  H.  Havens,  assistant 
marshal,  in  charge,  will  form  on  James  street,  right 
resting  on  State  street.  Fifth  division,  Capt.  Fred  VV. 
Sarauw,  assistant  marshal,  in  charge,  will  form  on 
south  side  of  State  street,  continuing  down  Eagle 
street,  right  resting  on  Pearl  street. 

III.  The  column  will  move  promptly  at  three  P.  M., 
whether  the  formation  is  complete  or  not. 

IV.  The  assistant  marshals  of  the  second,  third, 
fourth  and  fifth  divisions  should  assemble  their 
divisions  at  one  P.  M.,  to  afford  ample  time  for  proper 
formation.  The  assistant  marshal  of  the  first  division 
should  assemble  his  division  at  two  P.  M.  The 
various  parties  forming  the  column  are  requested  to 
join  their  respective  divisions  from  the  left,  to  avoid 
confusion. 

V.  The  following  staff  is  hereby  announced : 
Capt.  Harry  C.  Cushman,  William  M.  Whitney,  Jr., 
E.  R.  Perry,  Guy  Baker,  E.  A.  Kellogg,  Newton 
Dexter,  George  D.  Herrick,  aides.  The  staff  will 
report,  mounted,  Monday,  July  19,  at  one  P.  M.,  at 
headquarters,  480  Broadway. 

By  order  of 

General  James  M.  Warner,  Marshal. 
Geo.  H.  Treadwell,  Assistant  Marshal. 


225 


The  title  trades'  parade  did  not  sound  very 
inviting,  perhaps,  and  the  general  public  did  not 
know  quite  what  to  expect.  Such  an  elaborate  and 
artistic  array,  and  such  a  marshaling  of  brawn  and 
muscle  in  serried  ranks,  no  one  was  at  all  prepared  for. 

Marshal  Warner  took  command,  and  he  had  the 
assistance  of  a  capable  stafif.  He  had  given  his  word 
that  the  column  should  move  at  three  o'clock,  and 
although  at  five  minutes  of  that  hour  wagons  were 
streaming  in  from  every  street,  the  hands  of  the  clock 
had  traveled  but  a  short  distance  when  the  first 
division,  composed  of  men  on  foot,  marched  down 
Broadway  and  up  State  street.  Division  after  division 
fell  into  line  rapidly  and  in  order,  and  the  only  break 
in  the  entire  procession  were  those  caused  occasion- 
ally by  balky  horses.  The  route  of  march  was 
carried  out  as  printed,  the  line  passing  from  State  to 
Pearl,  from  Pearl  to  Clinton  avenue,  to  Lexington 
avenue,  to  Washington  avenue,  to  Eagle,  to  State,  to 
Willett,  to  Hudson  avenue,  to  Broadway.  The  column 
was  an  hour  and  twenty-five  minutes  in  passing  a 
given  spot,  and  the  first  division  had  reached  the 
point  of  dismissal  as  the  last  wagon  wheeled  into 
Pearl  street. 

FEATURES  OF  THE  PARADE. 
It  is  doubtful  if  a  larger  crowd  has  ever  been  seen 
in  the  streets  of  Albany.  Some  of  the  enterprising 
merchants  threw  their  wares  broadcast  or  distributed 
prizes  for  adv^ertisements.  Cakes  of  soap  were  thrown 
directly  into  the  crowds,  regardless  of  whether  they 
landed    on    a    twenty  dollar   bonnet    or    in   the  out- 

226 


stretched  hand  of  a  dirty  ragamuffin.  A  baker 
tossed  from  his  oven  bread  and  cakes ;  confectioners 
and  pop-corn  makers  bombarded  the  crowds  with 
their  sweetmeats  ;  a  clothier  threw  balls  for  those  who 
could  catch  them,  and  a  music  publisher  dropped 
from  his  wagon  dainty  rolls  of  music.  And  then 
what  a  scramble  there  was. 

The  First  Division. 


MECHANICS    AND    ARTISANS    MARCHING   TO    MARTIAL 

MUSIC. 

At  the  head  of  the  first  division  rode  the  marshal, 
Gen.  James  M.  Warner,  with  his  efficient  chief  of 
staff,  Major  George  H.  Treadwell  and  the  following 
staff:  Capt.  Harry  C.  Cushman,  William  M.  Whitney, 
Jr.,  E.  R.  Perry,  Guy  Baker,  E.  A.  Kellogg,  Newton 
Dexter  and  George  D.  Herrick. 

The  first  division,  consisting  of  Knights  of  Labor, 
trades  unions  and  labor  organizations,  formed  on 
the  east  side  of  North  Broadway,  right  resting  on 
State  street.  Marshal  Dowling  divided  his  division 
into  four  sub-divisions,  as  follows : 

First  —  carpenters,  machine  wood-workers,  shoe- 
makers, building  protective  association,  morocco- 
dressers. 

Second  —  painters,  paper-hangers,  Franklin  associ- 
ation. 

Third  —  cigarmakers,  coopers,  gas  and  steam-fitters, 
plumbers,  tinsmiths. 

Fourth — masons,  masons'  helpers,  tailors,  stove- 
molders  and  polishers,  Albany  workingmen's  assembly. 

227 


The  following  was  the  order : 

Marshal  Thomas  J.  Dowling  and  staff,  Tenth  Regi- 
ment band,  with  twenty-one  pieces. 

Capital  City  assembly.  No.  3,194,  carpenters  and 
joiners,  with  six  hundred  and  eighty  men  under 
command  of  Wm.  Van  Amburgh.  Twenty-six  of  the 
men  are  known  as  pioneers  and  wore  white  shirts 
and  carried  broadaxes. 

Roger's  assembly.  No.  7585,  carpenters,  with  A. 
G.  Fisher  in  command,  and  thirty-five  men  in  line. 

Arcanum  assembly,  Nos.  2613  and  2739,  shoe- 
makers, John  Coleman  in  command,  and  one  hundred 
and  thirty  men  in  line. 

Dongola  assembly,  No.  4725,  wool  and  leather 
dressers,  Charles  Rapp  in  command,  and  eighty  men 
in  line. 

Iron  Workers'  assembly.  No.  441 1,  Samuel  Watson 
in  command,  and  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  men 
in  line. 

Sons  of  Veterans  drum  corps  of  twenty  men. 

Painters'  assembly,  with  J.  H.  Quigley  in  command, 
and  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  in  line. 

Franklin  association,  with  F.  J.  Bahrend  in  com- 
mand, and  five  hundred  men  in  line. 

A  float  manned  by  M.  L.  Ryder. 

Liberty  band  of  eighteen  pieces. 

Cigarmakers'  union,  with  M.  Stern  in  command, 
and  four  hundred  and  fifty  men  in  line. 

Enterprise  assembly.  No.  5017,  gas  and  steamfitters, 
with  John  T.  Donovan  in  command,  and  thirty-six 
men  in  line. 


228 


Plumbers'  union,  with  R.  M.  Stafford  in  command, 
and  seventy  men  in  line. 

Tin  Plate  assembly  No.  4875,  with  sixty  men  in  line. 

Drum  corps  with  seven  men. 

Bricklayers,  Masons  and  Plasterers'  assembly,  No. 
6,  with  John  H.  Buchanan  in  command,  and  three 
hundred  and  twenty  men  in  line. 

Masons'  Laborers'  union,  with  J.  La  Prez  in  com- 
mand, and  one  hundred  and  two  men  in  line, 

Beaverwyck  assembly,  No.  3859,  tailors,  with  M. 
J.  McManus  in  command,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men  in  line. 

Drum  corps  with  five  men. 

Stove  Mounters  and  Pattern  Workers'  assembly, 
No.  6129,  in  command  of  George  Degnan,  with  two 
hundred  men  in  line. 

Stove  Polishers,  in  command  of  Conrad  Ewald, 
with  sixty  men  in  line. 

Albany  Workingmen's  assembly,  with  G.  W.  Per- 
kins in  command,  and  forty  men  in  line. 


The  Second  Division. 


ENTERPRISING  MERCHANTS  SHOW  THEIR  TASTE  AT 
DECORATION. 
The  second  division  under  the  command  of  Mar- 
shall Balchand  Adjutant  Judson  and  their  aids,  C.  F. 
Van  Benthuysen  and  C.  M.  Van  Heusen,  formed  on 
South  Broadway,  right  resting  on  State  street.  The 
Travelers'  Protective  association  had  the  right  of  line 
and  the  men  of  the  grip  appeared  in  regulation  travel- 
ing  costume.     They  were  upwards  of  one   hundred 

229 


strong  and  made  a  fine  appearance.  Following  them 
came  a  large  trunk  carried  by  four  colored  porters. 
The  trunk  was  labeled  with  this  legend:  "  Der 
Drummer  am  der  most  innocent  man  in  der  world." 
Then  there  was  a  wagon  tastily  decorated,  on  the  side 
of  which  was  a  scene  representing  a  traveling  agent 
just  arriving  in  town,  and  behind  was  the  query:  "  Is 
the  Buyer  In." 

One  of  the  quaintest  conceits  in  this  division  was 
contributed  by  Joseph  Fearey  &  Son,  the  well-known 
shoe  manufacturers.  It  was  an  illustration  of  the 
old  woman  known  so  well  from  nursery  rhymes,  "  who 
lived  in  a  shoe ;  she  had  so  many  children  she  did 
not  know  what  to  do."  On  a  large  float  was  the 
shoe,  spacious  enough  for  a  good  sized  family.  There 
was  the  old  woman,  while  around  her,  perched  in 
every  crevice  in  the  dilapidated  piece  of  footwear 
were  urchins,  fully  a  score  in  all,  and  ranging  in  size 
from  a  well-grown  boy  to  those  hardly  more  than 
babies.  It  was  an  excellent  idea,  well  carried  out  in 
the  float.  It  attracted  general  notice  and  favorable 
comment  all  along  the  line. 

Next  came  Stephens  &  Sons  large  fruit  delivery 
truck,  drawn  by  a  pair  of  fine  horses.  The  truck  was 
handsomely  decorated.  Tracy  &  Wilson  followed 
with  a  large  float,  illustrating  the  business  of  the 
Capital  City  mills.  The  wagon  was  profusely  orna- 
mented, and  had  above  it  a  handsome  canopy.  On 
the  float  were  large  boxes  of  coffee  and  other 
groceries.  Hart  &  Young  turned  out  their  delivery 
wagons  prettily  decorated.  A  fine,  large  wagon  of 
hay,  straw,  oats  and  feed  illustrated  the  business  of 
S.  Vroman. 

230 


David  S.  Brown  &  Co.,  of  New  York,  manufac- 
turers of  satin  gloss  soap,  had  a  very  large  and  costly 
covered  wagon  that  was  a  perfect  gem.  During  the 
procession  samples  of  the  soap  were  thrown  among 
the  crowd  and  eagerly  grabbed  by  the  hoodlums, 
who,  as  a  member  of  the  Bi-centennial  committee 
suggested,  certainly  needed  a  little  soaping. 

The  Electric  Carpet  Cleaning  company  had  in 
line  their  delivery  wagons  filled  with  carpets. 

While  the  line  was  forming  on  South  Broadway, 
the  great  Indian  of  J.  W.  Stevens  &  Co.,  the  tobacco- 
nist, which  had  been  placed  in  front  of  the  second 
story  with  a  large  American  flag  in  the  background, 
attracted  general  attention. 

The  business  of  C.  Kirchner,  wood  yard,  was 
represented  by  delivery  wagons  trimmed  with  trees 
to  show  the  source  whence  he  derived  his  supply  of 
wood.  A  very  pretty  float  was  the  verdict  over  the 
display  made  by  J.  Blocksidge,  decorator  and  house 
painter.  The  wagon  was  canopied  and  covered  on 
all  sides  with  canvass,  on  which  pretty  signs  were 
painted  and  on  the  sides  were  the  British  coat-of-arms 
and  the  American  shield. 

Jacobs  &  Proctor's  Shetland  ponies  came  next  and 
caught  the  eyes  of  the  little  ones.  Saul,  the  clothier, 
next  came  with  a  fine  covered  wagon.  The  Albany 
pickle  works  had  a  very  tasty  wagon  with  bright  painted 
kegs.  The  next  float  illustrated  how  a  blind  man  can 
make  brooms.  It  represented  Sol  Pohly,  the  blind 
broom  manufacturer  who  was  a  graduate  of  the  New 
York  State  Institute  for  the  Blind  at  Batavia,  On  the 
float  was  a  quantity  of  broom  corn   and  broom  ma- 


231 


chines.  During  the  parade  Sol  operated  a  machine 
and  completed  part  of  the  process  of  manufacture. 
Cleveland's  Superior  Baking  Powder  company  had  five 
wagons  in  line.  Two  were  sampling  wagons  and  three 
delivery  wagons.  One  of  the  latter  was  very  tasty,  a 
large  platform  being  piled  up  with  the  baking  powder 
boxes  in  pyramid  shape.  Eugene  Duncan  called  the 
attention  of  the  people  to  his  laundry  business  by  his 
two  fine  delivery  wagons.  Lansing  Brothers  showed 
samples  of  crockery  tastily  arranged.  Next  came 
John  Judge,  the  grocer,  with  wagons  full  of  wares. 
Stephen  H.  Parsons,  coffee  and  spices,  had  a  general 
delivery  wagon  and  a  truck  in  line,  both  handsomely 
ornamented. 

Heidrick  Brothers,  builders,  showed  a  covered 
wagon  in  which  were  plans  of  buildings  erected  by 
them  and  also  samples  of  building  material,  Charles 
Prince,  confectioner,  turned  out  his  delivery  wagon 
in  holiday  attire,  and  following  it  came  Mueller  & 
Peters,  cloth  spongers  and  refurnishers,  with  their 
wagon  covered  with  evergreen. 

The  Union  Clothing  company's  float  attracted 
great  attention.  It  was  a  large  boxed  wagon,  entirely 
enclosed  and  trimmed  in  red,  white  and  blue.  The 
driver  was  intended  to  stand  for  Uncle  Sam,  while  on 
top  of  the  float  were  ancient  pieces  of  ammunition 
and  four  soldiers  in  the  uniform  of  Continental 
gunners. 

Then  came  William  Orr,  fruit  and  fish ;  E.  N. 
Gardiner,  oysters;  C.  Buenan,  baker;  Wm.  G.  Ebel, 
baker  and  confectioner,  and  National  yeast. 

A  very  handsome  float  represented  Washington  in 


232 


an  attitude  of  addressing  an  audience,  while  his  hand 
rested  on  an  open  document. 

Walter  McEwan,  coffees  and  spices,  had  his  delivery- 
wagon  handsomely  decorated  with  bunting.  A  large 
representation  of  a  clock  with  the  dial  painted  on 
either  side  was  to  represent  O.  H.  Fasoldt,  and  was 
a  very  creditable  exhibit.  Gloeckner's  cemetery- 
nursery  had  a  wagon  filled  with  cut  and  potted 
flowers  and  plants.  A  beautiful  cross  and  an  anchor 
were  especially  noticeable.  Helmes  Brothers  furni- 
ture, contributed  a  float  containing  a  beautiful  cherry 
bed  room  set  and  a  delivery  wagon.  Killip's  laundry 
had  two  delivery  wagons  in  line.  L.  Menand  &  Sons, 
florists,  had  two  wagons  filled  with  splendid  specimens 
of  their  skill.  P.  J.  Patterson,  confectioner,  had  two 
delivery  wagons.  Three  large  floats  were  from  the 
furniture  establishment  of  Nelson  Lyon  and  contained 
some  splendid  pieces.  Clarke  the  baker  had  in  line 
his  two  new  bread  wagons. 

These  firms  were  represented  in  the  second  half  of 
the  second  division  : 

J.  Blocksidge,  paint  shop;  Julius  Saul,  Albany's 
leading  clothier ;  Albany  pickle  works ;  Soil  Pohly, 
the  blind  broom-maker ;  Cleveland  baking  powder, 
three  delivery  and  two  sample  wagons ;  Albany  box 
factory,  E.  N.  Gardner,  oysters ;  W.  G.  Ebel,  baker ; 
Clarke's  Newport  bread  ;  Gloeckner,  cemetery  florist ; 
P.  J.  Patterson,  confectionery;  L.  Menands  &  Son, 
florist ;  Killip's  laundry,  two  wagons ;  Helmes  Bro- 
thers and  Nelson  Lyon,  furniture ;  Walter  McEwen's 
National  mills,  spices;  S.  H.  Parsons,  coffee  and 
spices. 


233 


The  Third  Division. 


The  third  division  of  the  trades'  day  parade  was 
perhaps  as  interesting  a  one  as  any  in  line.  The 
Twenty-first  Regiment  band,  of  Poughkeepsie,  headed 
this  division.  The  staff  was  composed  of  the  follow- 
ing men:  Colonel  Alex.  Strain,  marshal  commanding 
and  aids,  Jesse  White  Sprong,  Charles  H.  Maginis, 
M.  S.  Simmons,  E.  Y.  Lansing,  John  H.  Armstrong, 
J.  Loughran,  D.  Huyser,  Charles  H.  Clark,  Francis 
Boom,  John  Wolfe,  Julius  Fish,  A.  Schilling,  Isaac  M. 
Strasser,  Sherman  Reynolds,  George  H.  Mackey,  P. 
J.  O'Connor,  James  Judge,  Jesse  A.  White,  Jeremiah 
Kieley,  George  Boucher,  Charles  L.  Weaver,  William 
Spellman. 

The  first  American  locomotive,  with  the  builder  and 
first  engineer,  Horatio  Allen,  headed  the  string  of  floats. 
It  was  a  perfect  representation  of  the  first  locomotive 
ever  run  in  America,  constructed  in  the  Delaware  and 
Hudson  railroad  shops  from  a  deguerrotype  in  pos- 
session of  Mr,  Horace  G.  Young.  The  "  Stourbridge 
Lion"  made  her  first  trip,  August  8,  1829.  The 
model  consists  of  a  tank  at  the  rear  of  the  tender,  on 
top  of  the  box,  from  which  the  water  is  carried  to  the 
heater  by  copper  pipe ;  a  boiler  nearly  like  those 
now  in  use ;  driving  wheels  three  feet  in  diameter, 
with  felloes  and  spokes  of  ash  and  an  iron  tire  shrunk 
in ;  two  driving  rods  on  each  side ;  a  walking  beam 
and  a  smokestack  similar  to  those  now  used.  Four 
horses,  covered  with  blankets  bearing  the  monogram 
of  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  company,  drew  this  float. 
The  stoves  were  then  fully  represented  as  follows : 
Rathbone,  Sard  &  Co.,  four  floats,  all  showing  various 

234 


makes  of  the  famous  Acorn  stoves  and  ranges ;  Ran- 
som Stove  Company,  one  float  with  five  of  their  stoves 
aboard ;  M.  Delehanty  &  Son,  one  float ;  J.  A.  &  C. 
E.  Baker,  one  float;  Geo.  W.  Peck,  one  float;  PhiHp 
O'Brien,  three  floats.  The  steam-heating  industry 
was  represented  by  one  float  of  the  J.  McCormic 
Company.  Quinn  &  Nolan,  the  celebrated  ale 
brewers,  had  a  very  unique  and  appropriate  float,  a 
large  truck  drawn  by  six  handsome  horses.  In  the 
fore  part  of  the  scene  was  a  hugh  cask  on  end.  On 
top  of  this  stood  Uncle  Sam,  with  a  foaming  beer  mug 
in  his  hand.  Reclining  on  a  grassy  bank  was  Bacchus, 
the  god  of  wine,  surrendering  to  the  goddess  of 
liberty,  or  to  ale,  and  old  Erin  was  also  represented 
by  her  goddess. 

THE    WONDERFUL   BEVERWYCK   FLOAT. 

A  most  magnificent  spectacle  in  itself  was  the  floats 
of  the  famous  Beverwyck  Brewing  company,  and 
they  attracted  wonder  and  admiration  from  open- 
mouthed  spectators  all  along  the  line. 

The  exhibit  consisted  of  an  original  conceit  from 
designs  by  Walter  Dickson  and  executed  by  Mr.  De 
Leon.  It  was  a  representation  of  the  surrender  of 
Bacchus,  god  of  wine,  to  Beverwyck  beer.  Bac- 
chus reclined  on  a  mound  representing  a  vineyard, 
and  on  either  side  of  him  were  two  Bacchantes,  and 
two  satyrs.  In  front  of  Bacchus  was  a  large  cask  of 
lager  set  in  rocks,  and  from  it  towered  a  flag-staff"  fly- 
ing the  national  color.  Upon  the  cask  and  beside  the 
flag  stood  Uncle  Sam  and  the  Goddess  of  Liberty. 
This  was   drawn  by  six   horses,  led   by  grooms  uni- 

235 


formed  in  white  trousers,  blue  shirt  and  white  straw 
hats.  The  border  of  the  float  contained  a  representa- 
tion of  casks,  with  ends  protruding  from  clusters  of 
hop  vines,  on  which  were  the  various  brands  of  ale 
made.  This  was  painted  by  Walter  Ormsbee,  artist  of 
New  York. 


EARLY   BREWING   DEPICTED. 

The  splendors  of  the  floats  of  the  Beverwyck 
Brewing  company  caused  cries  of  wonder  from  the 
assembled  multitudes  as  they  rolled  along.  Six 
horses,  each  attended  by  a  man  dressed  to  represent 
a  brewer's  apprentice,  pulled  the  first  float,  which 
represented  the  first  settlement  of  this  place  in  1614. 
On  the  sides  were  legends  :  "  1 614,  Beverwyck,  1614." 
On  the  float  was  a  wood  scene,  with  a  tent  toward  the 
rear.  In  this  sat  a  red  chieftain,  and  outside  on  the 
rocks  were  three  braves  and  one  squaw.  Four  Hol- 
landers stood  to  one  side.  Traffic  in  pelts  was 
carried  on,  the  Hollanders  giving  gin  in  return.  The 
second  wagon  was  drawn  by  four  horses,  each 
groomed  by  a  journeyman  brewer,  and  conveyed  an 
idea  of  the  little  Holland  brewery  which  stood  on  the 
site  of  the  federal  building  in  1686.  The  primitive 
brewery  was  in  active  operation.  A  fire  beneath  a 
glistening  copper  kettle  caused  steam  to  arise,  and 
was  attended  by  the  brewer  and  his  assistant,  who 
occasionally  stirred  the  liquid.  Two  Knickerbockers 
and  two  Hollander  officers  of  Fort  Orange  were 
seated  about  an  old  Dutch  table  on  ancient  chairs 
drinking. 


236 


GAiMBRINUS  IN  STATE. 
The  third  float  was  a  glittering  affair,  and  styled 
the  gala  wagon.  It  was  drawn  by  four  fine  horses 
attended  as  the  preceding  ones.  Upon  a  huge  cask 
eight  feet  in  diameter  sat  Gambrinus  (John  Schadt) 
on  his  throne,  with  a  gilded  goblet  a  foot  high  and 
eight  inches  in  diameter  in  his  hand.  From  this  he 
quaffed  the  amber  beverage.  His  throne  was  reached 
by  stairs  with  gilded  balusters,  and  over  his  head  was 
a  canopy  composed  of  hop  vines.  He  was  surrounded 
by  two  knights  in  armor,  two  cavaliers  and  two  pages 
at  his  feet.  In  front  of  the  huge  cask  was  a  faucet 
of  ancient  pattern  and  a  lager  beer  garden  occupied 
by  the  officials  of  the  Beverwyck  company,  includ- 
ing Michael  Schrodt,  general  manager;  August 
Kampfer,  secretary ;  James  Kiernan,  bookkeeper ; 
Michael  Beck,  head  brewer ;  Antonia  Muist,  his  assist- 
ant, and  John  Maxwell,  of  Rondout,  general  agent. 
These  dignitaries  sat  about  a  table  served  by  a  waiter 
with  the  sparkling  beverage  from  the  mammoth  cask 
— in  fact  they  were  partaking  of  their  own  goods. 

OTHER    SPLENDID    FLOATS. 

Coleman  Bros,  had  seven  trucks  in  line,  all  loaded 
with  full-size  ale  casks ;  Granger  &  Story  also  had 
three  trucks  similarly  loaded,  in  line ;  P.  K.  Dederick 
&  Co.  represented  the  farm  implement  industry,  with 
floats  and  hay  press ;  they  also  had  a  mounted  port- 
able steam  engine  in  the  great  parade.  The  Wheeler 
&  Melick  company  had  a  large  assortment  of  harvest- 
ing tools,  a  hay  press  and  thresher  representing  them. 
William  Risedorph  &  Co.  and  William  Miller  &  Co. 

237 


were  also  represented.  The  furniture  manufacturers 
were  represented  by  the  B.  W.  Wooster  Furniture 
company  in  a  fine  representation  of  an  old  Dutch 
household  interior.  Around  the  old  fire  place  were 
seen  the  old  tables,  highly  carved,  old  chairs,  settees, 
etc.  Nelson  Lyon  and  Wooster  both  had  representa- 
tions of  workshops.  John  Davis  represented  on  his 
float  the  interior  of  a  planing  mill  in  a  very  complete 
manner.  The  La  Rose  Manufacturing  company 
showed  in  the  van  ornaments,  a  French  flat.  W.  H. 
Scriven,  the  builder,  represented  a  frame  building 
half  completed.  The  marble  men  came  out  well. 
George  H.  Curreen,  of  Greenbush,  showed  two  large 
granite  blocks  protruding  from  the  native  quarry  soil ; 
the  second  float  showed  the  granite  and  marble 
highly  polished.  James  Gazeley,  a  truck  drawn  by 
six  horses,  finely  mated,  with  an  obelisk  lying  on  one 
side  on  it.  William  Manson  also  showed  the  working 
of  granite  and  marble.  The  Williams  &  Manogue 
Co.,  of  Troy,  showed  their  art  of  slating  roofs  in  a 
fine  exhibit.  Julius  Fish  &  Brother,  cigar  manufac- 
turers, had  aboard  a  complete  cigar  factory.  The 
raw  leaves  were  taken,  stripped,  rolled,  made  and 
packed  on  the  float,  and  the  cigars  thrown  into  the 
crowd.  Shields  &  Son  had  in  line  one  sales  wagon 
and  one  truck  with  the  raw  stock  on  it.  Dearstyne  had 
in  line  one  sales  wagon.  Clinton  Ten  Eyck  represented 
the  soap  industry.  Keeler,  the  popular  bill  poster, 
had  a  handsomely  decorated  wagon  in  line.  The 
hardware  trade  brought  Maurice  E.  Viele  with  a  large 
and  handsome  float  into  the  procession.  The  Gal- 
vanized  Iron   company  had   also   a  handsome  float. 


238 


The  Albany  file  and  saw  works  paraded  a  moving 
show  case  of  their  saws.  Marshall  &  Wendell,  C.  E. 
Wendell  &  Co.,  Boardman  &  Gray,  and  J.  H.  Thomas 
represented  pianos  and  organs.  The  two  latter  firms 
had  musicians  playing  as  they  paraded  through  the 
streets.  The  Domestic  &  White  Sewing  Machine 
companies  had  sales  wagons  in  the  parade.  Tread- 
well  &  Co.,  the  fur  dealers,  had  an  immense  float  in 
the  long  cavalcade,  on  which  they  showed  their  wares 
to  fine  advantage.  Bates  &  Johnson  had  in  the  line 
a  sample  of  their  goods,  steam  heating  and  ventilating. 

Fourth  Division. 


THOSE  WHO   BUILD   AND    FURNISH    OUR   HOMES. 

In  charge  of  Assistant  Marshal  Morton  H.  Havens, 
with  Antoine  La  Rose  as  adjutant  and  the  following 
assistant  marshals  :  Barrington  Lodge,  jr.,  J.  Hackett, 
Lawrence  Prince,  Horace  Westcott,  Herman  Russ, 
jr.,  J.  E.  Janes,  J.  V.  O.  Keenholtz,  Samuel  Lape, 
William  Collins,  R.  D.  Brittain,  George  E.  Latham. 
This  division  was  a  large  and  pleasing  one  in  its 
effect  in  the  parade.  The  Master  Builders'  exchange, 
comprising  twenty-five  carriages,  each  one  of  which 
contained  four  members  of  that  organization,  led  this 
division.  In  the  first  carriage  was  its  officers  :  Her- 
man H.  Russ,  president;  Henry  W.  Young,  vice- 
president;  A.  F.  La  Rose,  treasurer,  and  L.  J.  Prince, 
secretary.  Next  in  the  line  was  the  Albany  Carriage 
and  Harness  company  with  a  string  of  wagons  drawn 
by  handsome  black  horses.  A  harness  rack  was 
mounted  on  an  express  wagon,  to  which  were  hitched 


239 


four  styles  of  double-seated  carriages  and  four  single- 
seated  carriages.  Jonas  Keenholts  came  next  with 
five  carriages,  first  a  double-seated  carriage,  followed 
by  a  gorgously  tented  truck,  then  the  Boss  Road 
machine  made  at  Fort  Wayne,  and  the  worst  kicker 
in  the  procession,  a  Thomas  hay  tedder,  which  went 
through  the  streets  in  full  motion. 

A  cutter  and  carriage  were  mounted  on  a  platform 
by  Shaw  &  Barnett.  The  American  Express  com- 
pany next  attracted  attention.  Six  beautiful  horses 
drew  their  giant  delivery  wagon,  loaded  with  money 
bags  and  money  chests  strongly  bound  with  iron, 
representing  their  money  transfer  department.  A 
four-horse  team  and  two  other  wagons  loaded  with 
freight  boxes,  made  a  good  showing. 

The  National  Express,  not  to  be  outdone  by  its 
powerful  competitor,  followed  with  an  eight-horse 
team  of  grays,  hauling  one  of  their  strongest  delivery 
wagons,  containing  a  single  trunk  of  small  dimen- 
sions, but  which  was  conspicuously  displayed,  and 
over  it  the  inscription:  "A  trunk  of  valuables  be- 
tween New  York  and  Montreal,  1841  to  1850,  used 
by  E.  H.  Virgil,  originator  of  the  National  Express." 
Another  wagon  bore  a  heavy  load  of  freight  in  boxes 
addressed  for  shipment,  one  to  be  sent  to  the  Ro}-al 
Insurance  company,  Liverpool,  another  to  C.  W. 
Fisher,  San  Jose,  California. 

Next  in  the  line  was  the  display  of  the  Milburn 
Wagon  company,  one  float  showing  two  large  pict- 
ures of  their  mammoth  carriage  works  at  Toledo,  O., 
another  showing  the  wagons  they  made  for  the 
Adams  Express  company.    Then  came  the  coal  dealers 

240 


headed  by  F,  N.  Sill  with  a  four-horse  team  hauling  Le- 
high lump  coal.  Rock  &  Casey  drove  a  six-horse  team 
with  coal  in  bags,  followed  by  C.  M.  Stuart  with  an  old- 
fashioned  coal  dump  ;  Wm.  McEwen,  Coonley  &  Wald- 
ron,  John  G.  Burch,  Blackburn  &  Jones,  Judge  &  Son, 
Eldridge  &  Hyatt,  John  Neil,  Jr.,  T.  M.  Hackett  & 
Co.,  Hefifernan  &  Cullen,  P.  Heller,  Jr.,  E.  W. 
Howell,  Quay  &  White  and  C.  Smith  added  to  the 
procession.  Gibbons  &  Burhans  with  a  four-horse 
team  drawing  grate  coal  covered  with  a  well  ex- 
ecuted canopy,  and  E.  Ewing  with  a  novel  and  strik- 
ing display  of  a  coal  covered  house  built  to  show  the 
oldest  house  in  Albany,  with  miniature  inhabitants 
gracing  its  windows  and  doorway,  and  a  well  cus- 
tomed driver  in  Uncle  Sam  attire.  J.  R.  Nangle 
informed  visitors  that  coal  was  first  used  in  Albany 
,in  1825. 

The  tea  merchants  were  well  represented.  Four 
delivery  wagons  were  in  line  by  the  Union  Pacific 
Tea  company,  on  one  of  which  a  well  made  up 
Chinaman  attracted  attention.  The  National  Tea 
company  and  the  Great  Atlantic  and  Pacific  com- 
pany made  an  equally  good  showing. 

Then  came  the  butchers,  Hammond  &  Co.  dis- 
played a  huge  beef,  weighing  1,017  pounds,  dressed 
in  Hammond,  Ind.,  and  shipped  to  Albany  in  a 
refrigerator  car,  on  one  wagon,  while  another  had  a 
man  stuffed  with  pillows  to  an  enormous  size,  who 
was  pictured  as  one  who  "  eats  Hammond's  beef," 
Holland  Brothers  followed  with  a  cage  containing  a 
litter  of  nine  Duroc  pigs,  and  another  wagon  was 
loaded  with  pork  and  sugar-cured  hams,     Johnston 


241 


&  Company  had  two  wagons  in  the  hne,  and  R.  Gutt- 
man  &  Brothers,  two,  one  of  which  represented  a  car 
of  Swift's  New  England  meat  express. 

The  Vienna  Pressed  Yeast  company  had  four 
wagons  in  the  parade.  J.  Kreisher,  the  confectioner, 
gave  a  street  candy  making  exhibition  on  his  wagon. 
A  candy  revolving  copper  kettle  was  kept  in  motion. 
One  of  the  finest  displays  in  the  parade  was  the 
wagon  of  McFarlane,  the  pop-corn  dealer.  The 
sides  of  the  wagon  were  constructed  of  pop-corn 
layers  and  in  it  were  seated  two  little  girls  in  patriotic 
costume,  accompanied  by  a  youthful  clown  of  irre- 
sistible grimace.  Patterson,  the  gas-fitter,  contributed 
a  steam-fitting  apparatus ;  J.  R.  Purdy  &  Company, 
spring  beds;  M.  McDonough,  liquor  dealer,  and 
C.  H.  Burton  with  a  large  vinegar  barrel ;  N.  Bruck, 
A.  B.  Hecker  and  J.  VV.  Reed  &  Company  with  kind- 
ling wood  display ;  P.  Shaver,  with  five  ice  wagons ; 
the  Capital  City  News  company ;  James  A.  Shattuck, 
mason  builder,  and  J.  S.  Haswell  with  a  carriage  i8o 
years  old,  made  up  the  last  part  of  the  division  in 
good  style.  Other  participants  were :  The  Albany 
Carriage  and  Harness  company,  Standard  Wagon 
company,  J.  Hume,  Jonas  Keenholts,  the  Milburn 
Wagon  company,  F.  N.  Sill,  C.  M.  Stuart,  Coonley 
&  Waldron,  John  G.  Burch,  Gibbons  &  Burhans, 
Blackburn  &  Jones,  James  Judge's  Sons.  Eldridge  & 
Hyatt,  T.  M.  Hackett,  P.  Heller,  E.  Ewing,  Heffer- 
man  &  Cullen,  J.  R.  Nangle,  Neil  &  Walter,  Quay  & 
White,  Hammond  &  Company,  the  Vienna  Pressed 
Yeast  company,  the  Union  Pacific  Tea  company, 
the  National  Tea  company,  A.  McFarlane,  the  Great 


242 


Atlantic  and  Pacific  Tea  Company,  Jacob  Kreischer, 
confectioner,  James  Farrell,  teamster,  J.  R.  Purdy, 
M.  McDonald,  James  Hassell,  carriage  and  wagon- 
maker,  Johnston  &  Company,  pork  dealers,  R.  Guth- 
mann  &  Brother,  dressed  beef  dealers,  John  Wans- 
boro,  liquor  dealer,  A.  B.  Hecker,  kindling  wood 
dealer,  the  Capital  City  News  Company,  H.  Patterson, 
gas  and  steam  fitter,  James  A.  Shattuck,  builder, 
N.  Brock,  Henry  Leckel  and  J.  W.  Reid  &  Company, 
dealers  in  kindling  wood,  Charles  H.  Burton,  vinegar 
dealer,  Holland  Brothers,  pork  and  lard  dealers, 
George  Peters,  dealers  in  flour  and  feed.  Rock  & 
Casey  and  PI  W.  Howell,  coal  dealers,  P.  Shaffer, 
ice  dealer,  Thos.  Myers,  roofer,  and  Samuel  Stevens, 
fruiterer. 

Fifth  Division. 


DEVOTED    PRINCIPALLY   TO    A    DISPLAY   OF   FOOD 

SUPPLIES. 
The  fifth  division  was  under  the  charge  of  Assistant 
Marshal  F.  W.  Sarauw,  whose  mounted  staff  were 
dressed  in  black  clothes,  soft  felt  hats,  red  sashes  and 
white  gloves.  The  division  formed  on  Stale  street, 
continuing  down  Eagle  street,  right  resting  on  Pearl 
street.  Following  the  staff  was  a  large  number  of 
mounted  butchers  and  grocers,  and  carriages  bearing 
the  presidents  and  delegates  of  the  Central  New  York 
Mercantile  society.  The  division  was  admirably 
handled,  and  attracted  no  little  attention,  although 
there  were  no  gorgeous  floats  or  ostentatious  display. 
The  division  was  mainly  devoted  to  the  food  suppliers 


243 


—  the  butcher,  the  grocer  and  the  gardener.  The 
vehicles  represented  were  as  follows  : 

Larrabee  &  Company,  bakers,  fifteen  large  wagons 
beautifully  decorated  with  wares  tastefully  arranged. 

Van  Dervier  &  Holmes,  through  C.  S.  Scharne- 
man,  Jr.,  Albany  agent,  vehicle  handsomely  fitted  up 
and  decorated  with  flags  and  bunting. 

Fleischman  &  Company,  manufacturers  of  com- 
pressed yeast,  five  decorated  wagons. 

Mrs.  M.  Crummy,  baker,  two  wagons  decorated 
with  shields  and  flags. 

Frederick  Carr,  of  Greenbush,  had  four  wagons 
decorated  with  flags.  One  of  the  vehicles  was  the 
finest  ever  used  to  peddle  crackers  with  in  this  city 
— 1824.  It  has  been  stowed  away  for  years,  but  was 
recently  taken  out  and  repaired. 

The  Star  bakery,  wagon  decorated  with  flags  and 
bunting. 

The  Master  Bakers'  Protective  Association,  Charles 
H.  Blackwood,  President,  a  float  bearing  a  represen- 
tation of  an  immense  brick  oven.  Decorated  with 
the  flags  of  all  nations.  Cakes  were  distributed  along 
the  route  of  march. 

Earing  Brothers,  bakers,  one  handsome  decorated 
float  bearing  a  dough  trough  and  several  bakers  ;  also 
four  wagons  decorated  with  flags,  bunting,  etc. 

M.  J.  Iliohan,  baker,  two  wagons  decorated  with 
flags  and  evergreens. 

E.  G.  Nagengast,  gardener,  wagon  decorated  with 
squash  vines,  corn  stalks,  etc. 

Capital  City  Pickling  Company.  Two  little  girls 
located     on    a    raised    seat     representing     miniature 


244 


Godesses  of  Liberty,  Decorated  with  flags  and 
bunting. 

George  W.  Raynsford,  grocer,  two  wagons  deco- 
rated with  shields  and  flags. 

Waterman  &  Meigs,  grocers,  one  wagon  bearing  a 
load  of  tastefully  arranged  canned  goods  surmounted 
by  a  monster  coffee  pot. 

A.  S.  Miller,  grocer,  two  wagons  decorated  with 
pampa  grass  and  evergreens. 

P,  D.  Platz,  butcher,  finely  decorated  carriages, 
with  two  monster  steer  horns  in  front. 

I.  Wiley,  butcher,  two  vehicles,  one  containing  the 
head  of  an  immense  steer,  decorated  with  smilax  and 
cut  flowers. 

Lewis  Newhoff,  home  pressed  meat,  wagon  de- 
corated with  bunting  and  evergreens.  A  slatted  box 
with  a  centre  floor  contained  four  lambs  in  the  upper 
tier  and  three  calves  below. 

W.  H.  Lutz,  butcher,  two  wagons,  one  containing 
three  calves,  and  the  other  two  lambs  and  a  kid. 

E.  J.  Lord,  grocer,  finely  decorated  wagon  with 
two  little  girls  representing  the  Goddess  of  Liberty. 

Rider  &  Rockefeller,  grocers,  Lexington  avenue, 
small  flags. 

E.  Palmer,  grocer,  wagon  loaded  with  flour  barrels, 
decorated  with  bunting,  flags  and  rosettes. 

P.  Hagerty,  grocer,  flags  and  bunting. 

S.  H.  Smith,  grocer,  paper  bunting,  flags,  etc. 

J.  PL  Sutliff,  grocer,  shields  and  bunting. 

Stevenson,  the  grocer,  five  wagons  decorated. 

French  Tea  company,  vehicle  decorated  with  flags. 

Russell  &  Borthwick,  grocers,  two  carts  decorated. 


245 


W.  H.  Falke,  flour,  grain  and  feed,  decorated. 

Bennett  &  Brothers,  hog  butchers,  West  Albany, 
five  tastefully  decorated  wagons.  One  bore  the  sign 
of  a  monster  swine,  one  a  crib  filled  with  live  hogs, 
two  others  dressed  pork  and  uniformed  butchers, 
while  the  fifth  contained  fifteen  little  children  belong- 
ing to  the  family  of  Bennetts. 

A.  Wagner,  manufacturer  of  bologna  sausage,  two 
wagons,  one  bearing  samples  of  goods  and  the  other 
the  employes.  The  vehicles  were  trimmed  with  bunt- 
ing and  evergreens. 

Samuel  Stevenson,  wholesale  dealer  in  bananas. 

M.  Mausert  &  Son,  grocers,  decorated  cart. 

J.  &  W.  Blackburn,  grocers,  wagons  decorated  with 
gauze,  flags,  etc. 

C.  W.  Burton,  wagon  bearing  pyramid  of  jugs 
stamped  Burton's  Vinegar,  and  decoraced  with  flags. 

Clark  &  Woodin,  grocers,  decorated  wagon,  bearing 
coffee  machines. 

Coughtry  &  Eldridge,  grocers,  wagon  covered  with 
bunting  in  old  style  of  a  hen  coop. 

W.  J.  Fearly,  grocer,  decorated  cart. 

George  S.  Rivenburgh,  wagon  decorated  with 
looped  bunting. 

Displays  also  by  E.  Palmer,  J.  &  W.  Blackburn, 
Charles  Miller,  Jr.,  Waterman  &  Meigs,  F.  G.  Bradley, 
Clark  &  Wooding,  G.  S.  Rivenburgh,  Geo.  W.  Rayns- 
ford,  Wm.  F.  Kearney,  P.  Hagerty,  A.  E.  Clow,  Righter 
&  Rockefeller,  J.  H.  Smith,  E.  J.  Lord,  Samuel  Stev- 
ens, Fleischman  &  Company,  W.  H.  Falke,  Banfill  & 
Amsdell,  Stephenson's,  Coughtry  &  Eldridge,  Russell 
&  Borthwick,  John  B.  Carriere,  J.   H.  Sutlifif,  Fred. 


246 


Carr,  Star  Bakery,  Van  Derveer  &  Holmes,  C. 
Schornemir,  Jr.,  M.  Crummey,  M.  Iliohan,  H.  C. 
Weyman,  Earing  Brothers,  E,  J.  Larrabee  &  Com- 
pany, Capital  City  Pickling  Company,  W.  H.  Lutz, 
Lewis  Newhof,  A.  Wagner,  P.  D.  Platz,  M.  Mausert, 
Ignatus  Wiley,  George  Wiley,  Bennett  Brothers. 

THE  MAGNIFICIENT  PARADE  REVIEWED  BY  GOVER- 
NOR DAVID  B.  HILL  FROM  THE  CAPITOL. 
Governor  Hill,  with  a  few  friends,  reviewed  the  pro- 
cession from  the  windows  of  the  executive  chamber, 
and  was  highly  pleased  at  the  strength  and  varied 
attractions  that  were  presented  in  the  line.  Occa- 
sionally he  was  recognized  by  the  processionists  and 
saluted  as  the  men  marched  past  his  window.  King 
Gambrinus,  on  the  Beverwyck  float,  drank  the 
Governor's  health,  as  did  also  the  gentlemen  whom 
he  had  for  companions  on  the  float.  The  windows 
of  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  State 
library  on  Washington  avenue,  and  the  windows 
of  the  Adjutant-General's  office,  the  Board  of 
Health,  Regents,  Attorney-General's,  executive  cham- 
ber, insurance  and  public  instruction  departments  on 
State  street  were  crowded  with  State  officials,  accom- 
panied by  their  families  and  friends,  and  the  criticism 
of  all  was  of  one  accord  —  that  the  trades'  demonstra- 
tion was  an  imposing  affair,  and  reflected  great  credit 
upon  its  managers  and  those  who  participated  in  it. 
Fully  15,000  people  visited  the  capitol  yesterday, 
and  streams  of  people  were  continually  passing 
through  the  corridors.  In  order  that  the  subordi- 
nates might  witness  the  day's  events,  business  in  all 

247 


the  departments  was  generally  suspended  at  noon, 
and  these  hours  were  carried  out  during  the  balance 
of  the  week. 

UNVEILING    OF    THE    TABLETS     BY    HIGH    SCHOOL 
STUDENTS. 

In  charge  of  Professor  William  D.  Goeway,  of  the 
High  School,  at  three  P.  M.,  a  delegation  of  the  High 
School  students  unveiled  the  tablets  that  were  put 
up  in  various  parts  of  the  city,  locating  prominent 
buildings  of  the  olden  time.  The  list  is  to  be  found 
at  page  47. 

RACING  IN  CANOES. 
As  early  as  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  lower 
bridges  and  the  docks  and  steamboats  were  well  filled 
with  an  expectant  crowd  waiting  for  the  start  of  the 
canoe  regatta  which  was  announced  for  that  hour. 
The  club  house  presented  an  animated  appearance 
as  the  dainty  craft  were  prepared  for  the  con- 
test. The  referee's  boat,  a  small  steam  launch, 
unnamed,  left  the  club-house  at  10:30  A.  M.,  and 
after  placing  the  buoys,  the  canoes  were  ordered  in 
line  at  the  lower  end  of  the  course,  and  at  the  blast 
of  the  bugle  paddled  in  parade  up  the  course.  The 
sight  was  a  very  pretty  one,  the  tiny  crafts  stretching 
in  line  across  the  stream  were  verily  things  of  life 
and  beauty.  At  another  bugle  signal  sail  was  made, 
and  down  stream  they  went  under  full  canvas  to  the 
starting  point.  The  race  was  for  all  classes  of  canoes, 
no  limits  of  ballast  or  sail.  Course,  from  a  line  above 
the  Greenbush  bridge  around  a  buoy  near  the  East 
Albany  bridge  and  back  three  times,  distance  about 

248 


three  miles.     The  prizes  were  a  set  of  silver  plate  and 
a  silk  flag.     The  entries  were  : 

Marion  B.,  Mohican  canoe  club.  Rob't  Shaw  Oliver 
Madeleine,  Mohican  canoe  club,  Walter  L.  Palmer 
Arne,    Mohican    canoe    club,    Harry    C.    Cushman 
Thetis,  Mohican   canoe   club,   P.   M.  Wackerhagen 
Nan,  Mohican  canoe  club,  H.  D.  Thomas ;   Anna  V., 
Mohican  canoe  club,  E.  D.  Jennison ;   Raquette,  Mo- 
hican canoe  club,  M.  S.  Smith ;   Mermaid,  Mohican 
canoe   club,   L.   J.  Prince ;    Fleur  de   Lis,    Mohican 
canoe  club,  B.  Fernow;    Annie  O.,  Mohican  canoe 
club,    Fred    L.    Mix ;    Uncas,    Mohican    canoe   club, 
H.   R.   Pierson,  Jr. ;    Mida,   Mohawk  canoe  club,  of 
Troy,  William  Bennett ;    Dora,  Mohawk  canoe  club, 
of  Troy,  George  Dexter ;   Pecowsic,  Springfield  canoe 
club,  G.  H.  Barney;   Chingachgook,  Mohican  canoe 
club,  W.  A.  Wheeler ;   Wraith,  Brooklyn  and  Knick- 
erbocker canoe  club,  William  Whitlock ;    Avocette, 
Mohican  canoe  club,  F.  G.  Mather ;   Tigog,  Mohican 
canoe   club,  W.    G.   Janes ;    Oriole,    Mohican   canoe 
club,  E.  W.  Masten. 

Shortly  after  eleven  o'clock  the  start  was  effected 
with  a  steady  north-west  breeze,  and  the  canoes  got 
off  well  together.  The  first  to  cross  the  starting  line 
was  the  Nan,  at  ii  :  7:  lo,  the  next  over  was  the 
Marion  B.,  at  7:  25.  The  Thetis  was  third  at  7:  40, 
and  the  Arno,  Mermaid  and  Chingachgook  crossed 
together  at  7:45.  The  Pecowsic,  of  Springfield, 
followed  at  7 :  54,  and  the  Wraith,  of  Brooklyn,  made 
the  line  at  8 :  10,  with  the  Mida,  Fleur  de  Lis  and  the 
balance  in  a  bunch  after.  The  Thetis  took  a  lead 
soon  after  the  start,  but  was  closely  hunted  by  the 

249 


Nan  and  Wraith  in  order  named.  The  turn  at  the 
upper  buoy  was  made  in  the  same  relative  positions, 
and  a  good  start  was  made  for  the  journey  down 
stream.  The  breeze  freshened  up  a  bit  in  excellent 
style,  and  a  short  distance  from  the  turn  the  Nan 
walked  to  the  front  with  the  other  two  in  close  pur- 
suit. The  race  down  was  a  very  pretty  one,  the  wind 
held  out  well  and  was  fairly  steady,  and  when  the 
lower  turn  was  reached  the  Nan  went  around  first, 
Thetis  second  and  the  Pecowsic,  which  had  been 
steadily  creeping  up  to  the  rest,  got  around  third, 
followed  by  the  Wraith.  By  this  time  the  rest  of  the 
fleet  was  considerably  spread  out  over  the  course, 
some  going  up  and  others  down,  so  that  a  record  of 
their  relative  positions  could  not  be  made.  Up  again 
the  leaders  went  at  a  pretty  pace,  and  the  third  turn 
was  made  with  the  Thetis  first.  Nan  second  and  the 
Pecowsic  third.  The  Marion  B.  had  been  doing  some 
pretty  good  sailing  during  the  interim  and  drawing 
away  from  the  rear  came  speedily  up  in  the  van,  and 
the  fourth  turn  was  made  first  by  the  Thetis,  with 
the  Nan,  Pecowsic,  Marion  B.  and  the  Wraith  in  suc- 
cession. The  Chingachgook,  which  had  also  been 
lagging,  began  to  brace  up  to  the  work,  but  not  soon 
enough  to  press  the  leaders  at  all.  At  the  fifth  turn, 
and  the  last  one  at  the  upper  buoy,  there  was  a  brisk 
contest  to  see  which  would  get  around  first,  and  for 
some  time  it  was  very  uncertain,  owing  to  flaws  in 
the  breeze.  The  Thetis  caught  it  first,  however,  with 
Nan  a  close  second,  Pecowsic  third  and  Marion  B. 
fourth.  Down  they  came  again  for  the  last  time, 
sailing  briskly,  with  just  a  chance  for  the  Nan  to  win. 


250 


She  did  not,  however,  and  the  Thetis  rounded  the 
buoy  first,  Nan  second,  Marion  B.  and  Pecowsic 
together,  with  the  Wraith  and  Chingachgook  next. 
The  official  time  was  as  follows:  Thetis,  37m.  20s.; 
Nan,  38m.  20s.;  Pecowsic,  38m.  31s.;  Marion  B., 
38m.  55s.;  Wraith,  43m. ;  Chingachgook,  43m.  50s. 
The  referees  were  Messrs.  George  P.  Hilton  and  R. 
Wilton ;  starter,  R.  W.  Gibson ;  timekeeper,  George 
H.  Thacher,  Jr. ;  judges  at  the  buoys,  Walter  Fro- 
thingham,  Guy  Baker  and  Charles  Winne. 

The  Evening  Concert. 


A  SPLENDID  ENTERTAINMENT  IN  THE  CAPITOL  PARK 
TENT. 

Fully  four  thousand  people  were  in  the  Capitol 
park  in  the  evening,  and  heard  the  grand  literary  and 
musical  exercises  which  brought  educational  day  to 
a  close. 

Seated  on  the  platform  was  the  large  chorus  of 
school  children  that  for  some  time  had  been  under 
the  careful  training  of  Professor  George  Oliver. 
In  front  was  the  double  orchestra  from  the  Tenth 
Regiment  and  Albany  City  band.  All  were  under 
Professor  Oliver,  who  wielded  the  baton.  The  exer- 
cises themselves  were  all  that  could  be  desired.  The 
singing  of  the  children  was  excellent,  and  showed 
the  hard  labor  that  had  been  spent  in  their  training. 
The  choruses  were  very  strong,  and  alone  of  all  the 
exercises  could  be  heard  throughout  the  tent. 

The  programme  opened  shortly  before  eight  o'clock 
by  Von   Suppe's  overture,   Franz  Schubert,   by  the 


!5i 


orchestra.  Then  tlie  grand  national  hymn  "America  " 
was  rendered  by  the  chorus  accompanied  by  the 
orchestra.      It  was  loudly  applauded. 

The  rest  of  the  programme  was  then  rendered,  as 
follows : 

Chorus — "  Sailor's  Song  " Oliver. 

Reading — "  Fort  Orange,  1660  " Wide  Awake. 

Miss  Theresa  F.  Smith,  public  school  No.  9. 
Solo  and  chorus  (from  unfinished  opera  of  "  Loreley  ") — "Ave 

Marie  " Mendelssohn. 

Bi-Centennial  Hymn, 

Written  and  composed  for  this  occasion.     Words  by  Mr.  Howard  N. 
FSiller.     Music  by  Mr.  George  Edgar  Oliver. 

PART   II. 
Metropolitan  March BiaL 

Orchestra. 

Chorus — "  Grammar  School  March  " Veazie. 

Chorus — "  Barcarolle  " ..Oliver. 

"  The  Rising  in  '76" Thomas  Buchanan  Read. 

Mr.  Eugene  Brumaghim. 

Chorus — "  See  the  Conquering  Hero  Comes  " Handel. 

(From  the  Oratorio  of  Judas  Maccabeus.) 
Chorus — "American  Hymn  " Keller. 

The  exercises  lasted  until  half-past  nine,  when  the 
vast  crowds  gradually  dwindled  away.  State  street 
for  half  an  hour  afterwards  was  filled  with  a  closely 
packed  throng  on  their  way  from  the  park. 


TUESDAY,  JULY  20TH. 

Day  of  All  Nations. 

Morning. — Parade  of  German,  Irish,  Scotch,  Hol- 
land, French,  Italian,  English  and  other  National 
Societies,  to  be  followed  by  separate  exercises. 

252 


Afternoon. — First  Races  of  the  Annual  Regatta 
of  the  National  Association  of  Amateur  Oarsmen  of 
America  over  the  Pleasure  Island  course.  Exercises 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Irish  Societies.  Planting 
of  a  Memorial  Oak  by  German  citizens,  with  appro- 
priate exercises,  in  Washington  Park.  Scottish  and 
other  games. 

Evening. — Parade  of  Secret  Societies. 

ALL   nation's    day   PARADE. 

Headquarters  of  All  Nation's  Day,  ) 
Albany,  July  15,  1886.         5 
General  Orders  No.  2  : 

I.  I  hereby  announce  the  following  as  my  staff, 
and  they  will  be  obeyed  accordingly : 

Chief  of  staff.  Major  James  J.  Pender;  assistant 
marshals.  Col.  H.  A.  Freudenthal,  Majors  John 
Brannigan,  Daniel  J.  O'Brien,  George  W.  Dorn,  Capts. 
M.  J.  Slattery,  Andrew  Donner,  George  Welfings,  M. 
F.  McGowan,  Albert  Albers,  J.  D.  Burger,  F.  W. 
Sarauw,  John  J.  Creagen,  Lieuts.  J.  E.  Gallup, 
William  Boehm,  M.  Murphy,  Theodore  Papen,  August 
Rodie,  George  Guardiner,  William  J.  Dalton,  Thomas 
H.  Greer,  Peter  A.  Crounse,  Henry  Kleinhans,  Dr.  F. 
Ouimet,  J.  J.  Obey,  M.  Lepp,  Peter  D.  Platz,  S.  H. 
Mando,  S.  J.  Morton,  Robert  G.  Scherer,  Robert  F. 
McFarlane,  C.  C.  Mackey,  Joseph  Wesley,  Atillio 
Pasquini,  M.  J.  Howard,  Thomas  McEvoy,  John 
Eagan,  John  Mulderry,  B.  J.  E.  Mullen,  J.  H.  Reilly, 
Gilbert  T.  Sutton,  James  W.  Muir,  Casper  Muehleck, 
Jacob  Morgan,  H.  C.  G.  Blester,  F.  A.  Gremmier, 
Charles  W.  Miller. 


253 


II.  I  hereby  assign  the  following  as  division 
commanders : 

First  division,  Captain  Andrew  Donner;  second 
division,  Dr.  F.  Ouimet;  third  division,  Major  M.  J. 
Slattery ;  fourth  division,  James  W.  Bently ;  fifth 
division.  Captain  George  \V.  Dorn. 

III.  The  line  will  be  formed  as  follows : 

FIRST   DIVISION. 

First  division  on  Pearl  street,  right  resting  on  Third 
avenue.  Marshal  and  staff.  Twentieth  Regiment 
band.  M.  J.  Severence  Cadets,  under  command  of 
Capt.  Wm.  Addington,  as  escort.  Hollanders  with 
floats,  representing  the  provinces  of  Holland.  Float 
representing  windmill,  old  carriage,  cart  with  figures 
representing  two  orphans,  and  carriages.  Uniformed 
Scots,  with  pipers,  St.  Andrews  and  Caledonian 
societies,  visiting  Scotchmen. 

SECOND   DIVISION. 

Second  division  will  form  on  Third  avenue,  right  rest- 
ing on  Pearl  street.  Marshal  and  staff.  Plattsburgband. 
French  Societies.  St.  Jean  Baptiste  Society.  French 
Canadians  of  Albany.  St.  Jean  Baptiste  Society  of 
Troy.  Napoleon  Snow  Shoe  Club  of  Green  Island.  Na- 
poleon Club  of  Green  Island.  Float  La  Petite  St.  Jean 
Baptiste,  patron  of  Canada.  Float  Jacques  Cartier, 
discoverer  of  Canada,  with  his  ship.  Iroquois  Snow 
Shoe  Club  of  Troy,  in  carriages.  Children  in 
carryall.  John  T.  Carrier,  French  tea  store,  with 
chariot.  Italian  Society,  in  carriages.  Float  repre- 
senting   the    first    land    discovered    by    Columbus. 


254 


Float    representing  ship  of  Columbus,  Santa  Marie. 
Colored  societies,  carriages  and  float. 

THIRD  DIVISION. 
Third  division  will  form  on  Fourth  avenue, 
below  Pearl  street,  right  resting  on  Pearl  street. 
Marshal  and  Staff.  Tenth  Regiment  band.  Hiber- 
nian Rifle  Corps,  escort  to  Irish  division.  St.  Joseph's 
Young  Men's  Sodality.  St.  John's  Young  Men's 
Sodality.  St.  Mary's  Young  Men's  Sodality.  Robert 
Emmet  Association.  Float  representing  thirty-two 
counties  of  Ireland  and  the  maid  of  Erin.  St. 
Joseph's  Cadets.  Visiting  Division  of  Ancient  Order 
of  Hibernians.  Division  Nos.  4,  6  and  7,  Ancient 
Order  of  Hibernians.  Float  containing  representa- 
tion of  Emmet,  Parnell,  Gladstone  and  Davitt.  The 
United  Irishmen  of  America.  Albany  Council,  No. 
38,  C.  B.  L.  Cor  Jesu  Council,  No.  84,  C.  B.  L. 
Irish  Jaunting  Car,  containing  four  persons  in  costume. 
Davitt  Branch  Irish  National  League.  Parnell  Branch 
Irish  National  League. 

FOURTH  DIVISION. 
Fourth  division  will  form  on  Bassett  street,  right 
resting  on  Pearl  street.  Marshall  and  Staff.  Ger- 
mania  band,  of  Pittsfield.  Grant  Club,  with  fifty 
mounted  men  in  red  uniforms,  one  hundred  men  in 
white  uniforms,  one  hundred  men  in  blue  uniforms, 
drawing  cannon,  forming  colors  of  red,  white  and  blue. 
Float,  Joseph  Fearey  &  Sons.  Barouche,  Mr.  Dar- 
mette,  of  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  representing  Earl  of 
Leicester,  Prince  of  Orange,  Emperor  William,  King 
Leopold. 


255 


FIFTH    DIVISION. 

Fifth  division  will  form  on  Schuyler  street,  below 
Pearl,  right  resting  on  Pearl,  as  follows :  Mashal  and 
Stafif.  Albany  City  band.  Washington  Rifles,  Col. 
Geo.  Krank  commanding,  as  escort.  Apollo  Singing 
Club.  Float  representing  Apollo,  and  Caecelia  Singing 
Clubs,  with  float  representing  Caecelia.  Eintracht, 
with  float.  Mozart,  with  float.  Leiderkranz,  with 
float.  Harmonia.  Canstatter  Volksfest  Verein. 
Float  representing  Germania.  Float,  Columbia,  God- 
dess of  Liberty.  Float,  All  Nations.  Unterderfur- 
muetze.  Two  floats,  Hinckel's  Brewing  Company. 
Float,  Kirchner's  Brewing  Company.  Float,  Fred 
Dobler,  Brewer.  Float,  Heidrick  Brothers,  Brewers. 
Float,  George  Webber,  Brewer.  Float,  Cook  & 
Meutsch,  Brewers.  Excelsior  band.  Leiderkranz 
Singing  society.  O.  S.  D.  F.  Barbarossa  lodge,  K. 
of  P.  Other  societies.  Jacob  Kreischer,  one  float 
and  three  wagons.  Henry  Menges,  with  float  repre- 
senting building  a  house.  Bayrische  Volksfest 
Verein  float.  Heidrick  Bros.,  builders,  with  float. 
Geo.  Wiley  &  Bro.,  with  float.  Albany  Maenner 
quartette.  School  children  in  wagons.  Holy  Cross 
church.  Lady  Help  of  Christains.  Lady  of  Angels. 
Also,  thirty  business  wagons. 

IV.  Line  will  be  formed  at  8:30  A.  xM.,  sharp, 
Tuesday,  July  20,  1886.  Chiefs  of  divisions  will 
report  to  the  chief  of  staff  of  the  grand  marshal  at 
8 :  45  A.  M.,  at  headquarters,  the  assignment  of  their 
respective  divisions.  The  headquarters  will  be  on 
the  northwest  corner  of  South  Pearl  street  and  Fourth 
avenue.     The  assistant  marshals  will  report  at  8  A.  M. 

256 


sharp,  at  headquarters  as  established,  in  dark  clothes, 
soft  felt  hat,  sash,  white  gloves,  badges  and  riding 
whip,  as  ordered. 

ROUTE    OF    MARCH. 
South  Pearl  to  North  Pearl  street,  to  Clinton  avenue, 
Clinton  avenue  to  Perry  street,  Perry  street  to  Central 
avenue,  to  Washington  avenue,  where  the  parade  will 
be  dismissed. 
By  order. 

Col.  M.  J.  Severence,  Grand  Marshal. 
James  J.  Pender,  Chief  of  Staff. 

The  July  sun  shone  with  undiminished  power  all 
day,  and  there  was  a  misty  shimmer  of  heat  in  the 
midsummer  sky,  dispelled,  however,  on  the  streets  of 
the  Bi-centennial  city  by  a  gentle  breeze  that  shore 
the  burning  rays  of  much  of  their  power.  It  was  All 
Nation's  Day,  and  the  great  procession  was  cosmopo- 
lite in  character.  As  the  enormous  mass  of  vehicles 
wheeled  into  line  the  air  was  filled  with  the  sounds 
of  many  strange  tongues.  It  was  a  characteristic 
assemblage,  full  of  jolity  and  determined  to  do  its 
share  to  the  fullest  extent  in  keeping  up  to  the 
requisite  standard  of  attractiveness  the  magnificent 
programme  of  the  festival.  There  was  the  green 
badge  of  Ireland,  the  Hibernian  rifles  with  their 
proud,  jaunty  steps,  and  the  great  float  on  which 
were  grouped  thirty-two  young  ladies,  representing 
the  counties  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  with  the  Maid  of 
Erin  enthroned  above  them. 

There  were  the  Hollanders  with  their'characteristic 
float,  representing  the  seven  united  provinces,  Holland, 

257 


Zealand,  Utrecht,  Friesland,  Groningen,  Overyssal  and 
Guilderland,  that  founded  the  repubHc  of  the  United 
Netherlands  and  the  two  provinces  of  Zutphen  and 
North  Brabant,  that  afterwards  joined  the  confedera- 
tion. It  was  a  reminiscence  of  that  terrible  struggle  of 
eighty  years,  in  which,  after  unheard  of  struggles,  the 
Dutch  flung  off  the  yoke  of  Spain  forever.  The 
Scotchmen  made  a  brave  appearance,  and  the  "  skirlin' 
pipes  "  that  were  heard  around  Fort  William  Henry  a 
century  and  a  half  ago,  when  the  sturdy  Munro  con- 
fronted the  power  of  Montcalm,  made  barbaric  music 
along  the  line  of  the  parade.  The  Italians  were  there 
with  a  very  clever  representation  of  Christopher 
Columbus  and  his  famous  caravel  the  Santa  Maria,  in 
which  he  first  crossed  the  trackless  Atlantic.  Those 
who  have  read  the  thrilling  account  of  that  ever-to-be 
remembered  voyage,  and  have  admired  the  constancy 
and  courage  of  the  immortal  Genoese,  will  learn  with 
regret  that  the  good  ship  which  bore  him  to  the  New 
World  came  near  being  wrecked  by  the  telegraph 
wires  which  made  sad  havoc  of  her  upper  spars. 

The  Germans  contrived  to  make  one  of  the  most 
striking  features  of  the  parade.  The  children  of 
Fatherland  have  a  particular  aptitude  for  parades  and 
celebrations.  They  are  especially  happy  in  designing 
tableaux.  There  was  the  stately  figure  of  Germania, 
represented  by  a  charming  lady,  who  seemed  to  be 
the  living  impersonation  of  "  Die  Wacht  am  Rhein." 
Around  her  were  the  chief  representatives  of  German 
music,  poetry  and  science.  There  were  the  fair 
Csecelia,  patroness  of  the  divine  art,  the  Goddess  of 
Liberty,  with  the  points  of  the  compass  symbolized  by 


2s8 


four  pretty  maidens,  the  stalwart  Apollo  and  his  lyre, 
with  incense  offered  to  him  on  a  tripod,  and  the  rep- 
resentatives of  all  races  half  hidden  under  a  huge 
liberty  cap.  All  along  this  division  rose  the  sonorous 
voices  of  the  German  singers,  chanting  the  volkslieder 
of  Fatherland. 

Ere  the  parade  of  all  nations  reached  the  goal  of 
its  long  route  there  was  a  rush  to  Pleasure  Island  to 
witness  the  opening  of  the  annual  regatta  of  the 
National  Association  of  Amateur  Oarsmen.  It  was 
a  day  such  as  oarsmen  delight  in.  The  water  of  the 
mighty  stream  was  like  glass,  over  which  at  intervals 
the  playful  breeze  stopped  and  caused  a  faint  ripple. 
The  contests  were  worthy  of  the  high  reputation  of 
this  renowned  organization,  and  the  management  was 
worthy  of  all  praise. 

Besides  the  parade  and  the  boat  races,  there  were 
many  other  features  to  interest  the  citizens  and  their 
guests.  A  memorial  oak  was  planted  by  the  Germans 
in  Washington  park  and  an  elm  tree  by  the  Colored 
societies.  The  Irish  societies  held  very  interesting 
exercises  in  the  rink,  and  the  Germans  sang  all 
night  long.  There  was  no  diminution  of  enthusiasm, 
but,  on  the  contrary,  Albanians  seemed  to  be  inspired 
with  the  desire  to  put  up  the  thermometer  of  Bi-cen- 
tennial  heat  a  few  degrees  higher. 

The  First  Division. 


HOLLAND  S    SONS. 

At  the  head  of  the  first  di\'ision  rode  four  mounted 
policemen.     Officers    Roach,     Murphy,    Kirwan    and 

259 


Ford,  and  next  to  them  Grand  Marshal  Severence 
and  his  aids,  and  the  marshal  of  the  first  division. 
Captain  Andrew  Donner  and  his  staff,  John  Wolff, 
chief,  and  aids:  M.  Iliohan,  M.  De  Rouville,  John 
Degenar  and  Abram  De  Blaey  of  the  Hollanders, 
and  Robert  F.  MacFarlane,  C.  C.  MacKay  and  Wil- 
liam Gibson  of  the  Scotch.  The  music  was  furnished 
by  the  Twenty-first  Regiment  band,  twenty-one  pieces, 
of  Poughkeepsie.  Behind  them,  marching  with  fine  ap- 
pearance, were  the  M.  J.  Severence  cadets,  under  com- 
mand of  Captain  William  Addington,  with  thirty  men 
in  line,  acting  as  escorts.  Next  came  the  Hollanders, 
and  the  appearance  they  presented  was  most  favor- 
ably commented  upon.  The  Hollanders  turned  out 
seventy-five  strong,  with  Nelson  Boyd  in  command. 
This  nationality  also  had  two  floats.  The  first  was 
of  great  beauty,  being  a  canopied  wagon  decorated 
with  the  stars  and  stripes  and  the  national  colors  of 
Holland.  Within  were  eleven  pretty  young  women, 
representing  the  same  number  of  provinces  of  that 
country.  Each  one  was  dressed  in  the  appropriate 
peasant's  costume  and  carried  a  spear  and  shield 
bearing  the  arms  of  the  province  represented.  On  a 
mimic  throne  was  represented  the  Goddess  of  Liberty. 
The  young  ladies  taking  part  were :  Goddess  of 
Liberty,  Miss  Annie  Klomps ;  maidens,  Delia  De 
Rouville,  Nellie  Van  Denburgh,  Maggie  De  Rouville, 
Lizzie  Weenint,  Blanche  Wolff,  Julia  Wolff,  Minnie 
Ochtman,  Jennie  Van  Rees,  Hattie  Vlasblom,  Hattie 
Geurtze,  and  Nettie  Giffler.  This  attracted  the  grea- 
est  attention  throughout  the  entire  route  of  march 
and  was  greeted   with  frequent  applause  and    other 


260 


marks  of  approval.  Next  came  a  carriage  containing 
Mrs.  Iliohan,  Mrs.  Ochtman,  Mrs.  Wolff  and  Mr.  J. 
Ochtman,  each  clad  in  the  costume  of  one  hundred 
years  ago.  After  this  was  a  road  cart  containing 
representations  of  two  orphans  in  appropriate  cos- 
tumes, and  then  the  second  float,  an  old  Dutch  wind- 
mill, with  its  long  arms  picturesquely  spread  to  the 
breeze.  The  miller  was  John  Van  Buren,  and  his 
assistant,  John  Scravin.  Following  this  was  a  num- 
ber of  carriages,  containing  Hollanders,  and  a  wagon 
one  hundred  and  eighty  years  old,  with  two  men 
in  Continental  dress.  One  of  the  most  pleasing  fea- 
tures of  the  parade  was  the  bonny  Scots,  in  kilt  and 
tartans,  headed  by  twelve  pipers  droning  out  the 
national  airs.  The  thistle  was  well  represented,  there 
being  three  hundred  men  in  line,  fifty  of  them 
being  in  kilted  uniform.  The  Scotchmen  were  from 
this  city,  Cohoes,  Green  Island,  Troy,  New  York, 
Boston  and  Rochester,  and  were  under  command  of 
Charles  Brooksby,  and  Peter  Kinnear,  president.  The 
Scotch  caps  and  waving  eagle  plumes  of  this  detach- 
ment gave  a  very  novel  and  attractive  aspect  to  this 
part  of  the  parade. 


The  Second  Division. 


OUR    FRENCH    CITIZENS. 

Considering  the  number  of  Frenchmen  in  this  city 

their  display  was  excellent.     They  had  the  right  of  the 

line  of  this  division  and  were  preceded  by  the  Platts- 

burgh  band.    Marshal  John  G.  Obey  was  in  command. 

261 


First  came  St.  Jean  Baptiste  Society  of  Albany,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  strong,  under  the  command  of  Presi- 
dent Albrich  Fredette.  The  society's  elegant  hand- 
work banner,  and  American  and  French  flags  floated 
in  the  breeze  in  front.  The  members  of  the  society 
wore  the  emblem  of  Canada,  the  maple  leaf,  and  a 
white  badge  on  which  was  "'Les  Canadiens  Frangais 
d'Albany."  Then  came  the  Willard  post  drum  corps, 
St.  Jean  Baptiste  Society  of  Troy,  in  charge  of  Francis 
Richards.  They  bore  French  and  American  flags. 
The  Iroquois  Snow  Shoe  Club  of  Troy,  turned  out 
in  carriages  about  twelve  strong.  Each  vehicle  bore 
snow  shoes  behind  the  driver's  seat. 

An  excellent  float  of  the  French  Canadians  next 
appeared.  It  represented  a  full-rigged  brig  inscribed 
"St.  Malo,  1534,"  on  the  bow.  It  was  gotten  up  in 
excellent  style  and  was  a  fair  likeness  of  the  ship  of 
more  than  three  centuries  ago  in  which  Capt.  Jacques 
Cartier  discovered  Canada.  On  the  ship  were  Enrich 
Fredette,  as  Cartier,  and  Masters  H.  Bernard.  Isaac 
Milot,  E.  Carrow  and  I.  Marquis,  as  sailors. 

Another  float  represented  La  Petite  Jean  Baptiste, 
and  on  it  was  a  throne  on  which  sat  Charles  Picard, 
in  the  character  of  the  saint,  holding  in  his  hand  a 
crozier,  while  at  his  feet  rested  a  small  lamb  in  real 
flesh.  Two  wagons  of  French  school  children  com- 
pleted the  division. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  parade,  M.  Henri  Boland, 
an  eloquent  French  orator,  addressed  the  French 
societies  in  St.  Jean  Baptiste  rooms  in  the  basement 
of  the  French  Catholic  Church.  He  spoke  particu- 
larly of  the  history  of  the  French  in  this  country  and 

262 


their  influence  in  colonizing  it.     Afterward  refresh- 
ments were  served  to  visiting  societies. 

THE   COLORED    SOCIETIES. 
The  colored  citizens  had  a  delegation  in  this  divi- 
sion.    They  were  members  of  the    Burdette-Coutts 
Society,  and  rode  in  carriages.     An  elegant  banner, 
presented  by  the  ladies,  was  displayed. 

The  Third  Division. 


THE   IRISH    societies. 

At  precisely  nine  o'clock,  the  hour  appointed  for 
the  parade  to  take  place,  the  chimes  and  bell  of  St. 
Ann's  Church  rang  out  an  inspiriting  welcome,  which 
caused  the  Irish  heart  to  dance  with  delight  and  give 
zest  to  the  reception  of  this  brigade  on  their  line  of 
march.  Marshal  Slattery  commanded  his  division 
with  the  abandon  of  a  veteran.  His  aides  wore  green 
badges  and  sashes,  with  Major  M.  F.  McGowan  as 
chief,  in  full  uniform.  The  aides  were :  Frank  J. 
Goewey,  John  J.  Cassidy,  Charles  E.  Hurley,  Edward 
J.  Flood,  Timothy  Mohide,  P.  B.  Muldowney,  Thos. 
J.  Dolan,  Harvey  T.  V.  Harrington,  James  H.  Dulin, 
James  J.  Burns,  Timothy  O'Sullivan,  Daniel  Scully, 
William  J.  Hill,  James  McGrath,  Francis  Sullivan,  B. 
McGuire,  Patrick  Maher,  Timothy  Dineen,  P.  J. 
Crotty,  James  Cuthbert,  T.  J.  Daly,  Francis  J.  Bigley, 
John  Cleary,  Andrew  Daly. 

The  Tenth  regiment  band  followed  the  aides  lead- 
ing the  Hibernian  Rifles  in  green  coats  and  cockades. 
They  numbered  thirty-six,  and  had  eight  line  and  staff" 

263 


officers.  They  escorted  two  carriages,  containing 
General  Charles  Tracey,  chairman  of  the  day ;  the 
Rev.  T.  M.  A.  Burke,  chaplain ;  District  Attorney 
Hugh  Reilly,  orator ;  the  Hon,  Thomas  J.  Lanahan, 
reader;  M.  J.  Louden,  poet;  Judge  John  W.  Walsh, 
Mr.  David  Healey,  of  the  Irish  World,  and  T.  S. 
O'Brien.  Then  came  St.  Joseph's  Sodality,  two 
hundred  strong,  Marshal  Fitzpatrick  commanding, 
and    St.  John's  Sodality,  fifty-one  strong. 

THE  ERIN  FLOAT. 
The  float  bearing  the  thirty- two  young  ladies, 
representing  the  counties  of  Ireland,  was  a  magnifi- 
cent affair  and  the  admiration  of  every  Irish  person. 
The  body  of  the  float  was  a  representation  of  the  Hill 
of  Tara,  the  headquarters  of  the  first  four  sovereigns 
of  Ireland.  About  this  hill  the  young  ladies  were 
seated.  On  the  apex  of  the  float  was  a  large  raised 
chair  in  which  was  seated  the  Maid  of  Erin,  Miss  Lulu 
Kelly,  who  rode  in  this  exalted  position  in  regal 
manner.  The  float  also  bore  a  representation  of  the 
Martello  tower,  at  the  base  of  which  a  wolf-dog  is 
resting,  and  the  Celtic  cross.  The  float  was  drawn 
by  six  horses,  which  were  led  by  footmen.  Four 
soldiers,  dressed  in  Irish  regimentals,  were  guards  to 
the  floats  and  represented  the  four  provinces  of  Ire- 
land. The  thirty-two  counties  were  represented  by 
these  young  ladies :  Katie  Nugent,  Delia  Nugent, 
Katie  Heffernan,  Mamie  Slattery,  Nellie  Slattery, 
Margaret  Brannigan,  Mary  A.  Murphy,  Ellen  Ahearn, 
Mary  A.  Mullen,  Gussie  Phillips,  Kate  Ward,  Annie 
Tierney,  Mamie  Leister,  Belle  Mcintosh,  Miss  Cran- 


264 


ney,  Annie  Obrien,  Delia  Reilly,  Katie  Kielty,  Miss 
Dolan,  Johanna  Nolan,  Maggie  M.  Murphy,  Miss  Rice, 
Miss  Sheedy,  Alice  Dowling,  Aggie  Rowe,  Maude 
Dulin,  Annie  Finn,  Maggie  O'Connell,  Kate  Feeley, 
Mary  Feeley,  Annie  J.  Rourke,  Kate  Hart.  They 
were  attired  in  white  with  green  sashes  bearing  the 
names  of  the  counties  printed  in  pale  green  letters. 

The  St.  Joseph's  Cadets,  Capt.  B.  H.  McDonald, 
with  twenty-five  men,  followed  the  float,  escorting 
Branch  No.  4  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  one 
hundred  strong;  Branch  No.  5  Ancient  Order  of 
Hibernians,  of  Green  Island ;  Branch  No.  6  Ancient 
Order  of  Hibernians,  one  hundred  strong;  United 
Irish  of  America,  one  hundred  and  twenty  strong; 
and  Council  No.  38,  Catholic  Benevolent  League, 
seventy-five  strong. 

Another  float  then  came  into  view  with  life-size 
figures  of  Gladstone,  in  a  sitting  position,  and  Charles 
Stuart  Parnell  standing,  and  Robert  Emmet,  with 
hands  bound.  The  effect  was  striking.  This  float  was 
drawn  by  four  horses. 


The  Fourth  Division. 


THE   GRANT   CLUB. 

The  fourth  division  was  in  command  of  Marshal 
Wetzel,  accompanied  by  his  staff.  The  Germania 
band,  of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  twenty  strong,  furnished 
music  for  this  division,  and  acquitted  itself  in  a  most 
creditable  manner.  Next  in  order  came  the  Grant 
Club,  bearing  a  banner  with  a  portrait  of  the  soldier 

265 


hero.  The  club  was  in  command  of  J.  W.  Bentley, 
with  a  mounted  staff  of  fifteen  men  in  black  cloth 
coats,  white  pantaloons  and  helmets  and  red  sashes. 
Next  came  the  citizens'  division  of  the  club,  in  com- 
mand of  Michael  Howard,  followed  by  the  first  uni- 
formed company,  attired  in  white  uniforms  and  white 
helmets.  The  gun  squad  of  the  club  came  next  in 
order,  similarly  attired  in  blue,  drawing  the  mounted 
brass  cannon,  Thurlow  Weed,  and  under  command  of 
George  Addington.  The  entire  club  made  a  most 
creditable  appearance  and  were  warmly  welcomed  at 
different  points  of  the  route  of  march. 

The  second  feature  of  this  division  attracted 
general  attention,  and  was  a  carriage  containing  four 
gorgeously  costumed  gentlemen  dressed  in  represen- 
tation of  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  the  Prince  of  Orange, 
Emperor  William  and  King  Leopold,  the  two  former 
occupying  the  front  seat  and  the  latter  two  the  back 
seat  of  the  vehicle.  The  following  gentlemen  per- 
sonated the  characters  in  the  order  named  above : 
Charles  A.  Smith,  D.  W.  Fowler,  C.  H.  Danielle  and 
C.  W.  Rosekrans. 

Following  the  carriage  came  the  float  of  Fearey  & 
Sons,  drawn  by  two  horses,  and  containing  a  mam- 
moth shoe  reposing  on  its  side,  with  the  toe  to  the 
front  and  the  opening  at  the  top  of  the  shoe  facing 
the  left.  At  the  rear  of  this  gigantic  pedal  covering 
was  constructed  a  small  hut  of  ancient  and  timeworn 
appearance.  In  the  opening  at  the  top  of  the  shoe 
sat  the  fabled  old  woman  "who  had  so  many  children 
she  didn't  know  what  to  do,"  and  surrounding  her 
and  at  every  available  place  on  the  float  was  a  diver- 

266 


sified  collection  of  small  boys  that  would  doubtless 
have  gladdened  the  heart  of  the  original  "  old  woman  " 
had  she  been  here  to  see.  The  body  of  the  float  was 
draped  in  red  and  flags  were  disposed  at  the  top  of 
the  shoe  and  on  the  front  of  the  float  platform.  The 
whole  idea  was  carried  out  in  admirable  style  and 
was  unusually  efl"ective. 

Next  in  order  came  the  float  of  Fish  Bros.,  drawn 
by  two  horses  decorated.  This  float  illustrated  the 
process  of  cigar  making,  and  displayed  five  men  at 
work  shaping  the  aromatic  weed  into  smoking  form. 
The  tables  were  draped  with  the  national  colors  and 
the  awning  over  the  top  was  composed  of  decora- 
tions. One  side  of  the  float  bore  the  inscription  : 
"  None  But  Union-Made  Cigars  Sold,"  and  the  other 
side  had  a  representation  of  a  tree  stump  with  a  box 
of  cigars  reposing  on  the  top,  in  illustration  of  the 
"  Stump "  cigars  manufactured  by  the-  firm.  The 
very  handsomely  painted  wagon  of  David  S.  Brown 
&  Co.,  of  New  York,  manufacturers  of  "  Satin  Gloss 
Soap,"  came  next,  drawn  by  three  superb  horses  with 
trappings  of  brown  leather  and  gilt.  Samples  of  the 
firm's  manufacture  were  distributed  on  the  line  of 
march.  The  pony  team  and  wagon  of  Jacobs  & 
Proctor  followed,  and  a  wagon  bearing  the  inscription 
of  the  Continental  Fire  Insurance  Company  completed 
the  division. 

The  Fifth  Division. 


THE   GERMAN   ORGANIZATIONS    AND    SINGING 
SOCIETIES. 
At    the    hour   appointed    for    the    organization    to 
parade  hardly  any  men  who  were  to  take  part  were 

267 


to  be  seen  about  the  lower  part  of  South  Pearl  street. 
The  entire  parade  of  the  All  Nations'  Day  was  good, 
but  the  fifth  and  last  division  was  probably  the  best 
of  it.  In  this  division  were  all  the  German  societies 
and  many  of  the  most  unique  floats.  It  was  headed 
by  Division  Commander  George  W.  Dorn  and  his 
assistants.  The  Albany  city  band  headed  the  divi- 
sion. The  excellence  of  the  music  given  by  them  is 
well  known  to  every  Albanian.  All  the  organizations 
turned  out  well  and  presented  a  fine  appearance.  The 
Washington  Rifles  followed  the  band,  fifty  strong. 
They  marched  in  good  order  and  attracted  much 
commendation.  The  German  musical  societies  made 
a  fine  appearance  and  came  out  well  appointed  and 
uniformed,  and  were  highly  praised  by  every  one. 
The  float  of  the  Apollo  society  was  one  of  the  most 
attractive  in  line.  It  was  a  representation  of  a  scene 
in  a  primeval  wood,  with  the  trees,  grasses  and  shrub- 
bery finely  represented,  all  the  leaves  waving  and 
swaying  in  the  breeze,  combining  to  make  it  a  most 
realistic  scene.  In  the  rear  of  the  float  was  erected 
a  throne,  surrounded  by  garlands,  leaves  and  other 
natural  properties,  and  on  this  was  seated  the  god, 
Mr.  John  H.  Pfeffer.  On  his  head  was  a  crown  ;  he 
was  arrayed  in  pink  tights  and  had  the  appearance, 
one  would  imagine,  the  god  of  old  presented.  In  front 
of  him  were  two  censors,  with  burning  incense  on 
them.  The  float  was  designed  by  Mr.  Charles  M. 
Lang. 

The  Csecelia  float  was  a  handsomely  decorated 
wagon,  with  vines,  garlands  and  roses  running  around 
the  entire  body.      Enclosed    were   the   members,   all 


268 


dressed  similarly,  and  bowing  and  smiling  to  their 
friends  in  the  crowds  as  they  passed.  The  Harmonia 
float  was  a  wagon,  enclosing  the  members;  it  was 
handsomely  decorated  with  flags,  pennants  and 
flowers.  The  Eintracht  float  was  similar  to  the  above 
two,  equally  handsome  and  presenting  the  same 
attractive  appearance.  They  carried  a  banner  —  a 
new  one  made  for  the  occasion  —  which  cost  them 
$450.  On  the  rear  of  their  float  was  an  oil  painting 
representing  the  Goddess  of  Music  riding  in  her 
chariot.  The  Mozart  club,  with  their  float,  attracted 
much  attention  by  their  fine  appearance  and  orderly 
way  of  marching.  On  a  throne  erected  on  the  float 
was  a  member  attired  as  Mozart,  who,  in  his  pose, 
attracted  much  comment. 

The  Liederkranz  society  came  out  well  with  a  strong 
force  and  a  handsome  float.  This  was  handsomely 
decorated  and  adorned  with  flags  and  pennants.  The 
banner  they  carried  on  the  occasion  was  a  new  one, 
very  pretty  in  design  and  make,  which  cost  $500. 
They  came  out  with  a  strong  force  of  members,  and 
every  one  admired  them. 

GERMANY'S    ILLUSTRIOUS    SONS. 

Another  remarkable  and  appropriate  float  was  that 
of  the  Constatter  Volksfest  Verein.  This  was  a  float 
decorated  with  garlands,  wreaths  and  flowers,  and 
with  representations  in  the  costume  of  their  day  of 
six  of  the  most  illustrious  sons  of  Germany,  They 
were  Wagner,  Guttenberg,  Schiller,  Goethe  and  Kep- 
pler. 

Harugari  Saengerbund  came  out  with  about  five 

269 


hundred  men.  There  were  also  two  floats,  very  pretty. 
They  marched  in  good  order  and  every  one  thought 
them  handsome.  The  Bayrische  Volksfest  Verein 
float  was  pretty,  attracting  much  praise  and  atten- 
tion. The  organizations,  Barbarossa  lodge,  K.  of  P., 
and  other  societies  marched  well,  and  all  appeared 
to  good  advantage.  The  floats  of  the  business  houses, 
notably  lager  and  ale  breweries  and  coal  dealers  and 
masons,  were  all  handsome  and  in  good  keeping  with 
the  rest  of  the  parade.  The  former  were  repre- 
sented by  huge  casks  and  gods  of  drink.  Menges, 
the  builder,  had  a  miniature  house  in  line  with  carpen- 
ters at  work.  The  patriotic  floats  representing  the 
Goddess  of  Liberty  and  All  Nations  were  good  and 
highly  complimented  by  every  one. 

The  charitable  organizations  of  Our  Lady  Help  of 
Christians,  Our  Lady  Help  of  Angels,  and  from  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Cross  were  well  represented,  and 
all  commended  them. 

The  bands,  the  Albany  City  and  Excelsior,  dis- 
coursed fine  selections  while  marching  through  the 
streets,  and  nothing  in  the  line  added  more  to  the 
success  and  joyousness  of  the  fifth  than  this  same 
good  music.  While  marching,  the  Apollos  at  fre- 
quent intervals  broke  line  and  marched  in  the  form  of 
the  letter  A.  This  added  considerable  to  the  attrac- 
tiveness of  the  division. 

THE    ITALIAN    DIVISION. 
The    Italians    were    to   have    been    in    the  second 
division.      But  their  fine  big  ship,  the   "  St.   Maria," 
representing  that  ship  of  historic   fame  from  which 

270 


Columbus  first  saw  the  new  world,  was  too  tall  to  go 
easily  under  the  electric  wires  and  some  delay  was 
caused.  Therefore,  the  Italians  formed  a  division  of 
their  own  and  came  in  last.  Even  then  it  was  neces- 
sary to  haul  down  the  sails  at  almost  every  crossing, 
and  to  use  a  long  hooked  pole  to  raise  the  wires  that 
the  mast  might  come  under.  The  ship  was  a  beauty. 
She  was  twenty-two  feet  over  all  and  thirty  feet  length 
of  yard-arm,  while  it  is  the  same  distance  to  the  top 
of  the  spars.  The  hull  was  painted  black,  and  in 
golden  letters  were  the  word  "  St.  Maria."  It  took 
3,400  feet  of  rope  to  rig  the  ship.  The  float  was 
constructed  by  John  Penzo,  under  the  direction  of 
Attilio  Pasquini.  A  second  float  shown  by  the  Ital- 
ians, and  of  almost  equal  beauty,  represented  an 
island  of  rock  rising  from  the  ocean.  Beneath  natu- 
ral trees  reclined  Indians,  in  costume,  and  the  island 
stood  for  America  discovered  by  Columbus  in  the  ship 
"  St.  Maria."  Between  the  floats  came  carriages  with 
Italian  citizens  in  large  numbers.  Attilio  Pasquini 
was  marshal.  All  the  members  wore  the  Italian 
colors  and  handsome  badges,  with  the  words : 
"  Columbus  Club,  Albany's  200th  anniversary." 

REVIEWED  FROM  THE  STATE  CAPITOL,  BY  GOVERNOR 
HILL  AND  SEVERAL  STATE  OFFICERS. 
Governor  Hill,  Lieutenant-Governor  Jones,  State 
Treasurer  Fitzgerald,  Secretary  of  State  Cook  and 
Miss  Cook  were  the  occupants  of  the  veranda  facing 
the  oflice  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  as  the  parade 
passed  the  capitol.  Governor  Hill  on  many  occasions, 
complimented  the  excellent  marching  of  the  several 
military  and  civic  societies,  and  expressed  consider- 

271 


able  surprise  at  the  large  representation  of  men  in 
line.  He  considered  the  Irish  float,  representing  the 
thirty-two  counties  of  Ireland,  as  a  very  handsome 
design,  and  its  uniqueness  and  purpose  reflected 
great  credit  upon  those  who  originated  the  idea. 
The  various  handsome  German  floats  were  com- 
mented upon  by  him  in  strong  terms  of  approval, 
and  at  the  conclusion  of  the  parade  he  summed  up 
his  opinion  by  saying  the  parade  throughout  was  a 
pleasing  one,  the  men  marched  well,  the  representa- 
tions of  all  nations  were  carried  out  with  accurate 
faithfulness,  and  everybody  in  line  evinced  a  sincere 
desire  to  lend  every  individual  effort  to  make  the 
parade  a  success,  which  it  was.  Governor  Hill  and 
State  officers  reviewed  the  procession  from  the  begin- 
ning to  the  end. 

The  Irish  Exercises. 


AN    EXCELLENT    PROGRAMME    CARRIED    OUT   AT   THE 
RINK  —  HON.  HUGH    REILLY'S    ORATION. 

The  rink  would  hardly  hold  the  audience  at  these 
exercises,  many  of  the  people  having  waited  an  hour 
before  the  Irish  division  got  back  from  parading  and 
the  programme  was  opened.  Seated  on  the  stage 
were  Gen.  Charles  Tracey,  presiding ;  Rev.  Father 
Burke,  Hon.  Hugh  Reilly,  Justices  J.  W.  Walsh  and 
Andrew  Hamilton,  David  Healy,  Dr.  John  Thompson, 
M.  J.  Louden,  T.  S.  O'Brien  and  Henry  Martin. 

A    PLEASANT    OCCASION. 
The  rink  presented  a  splendid  appearance  with  its 
ceiling  of  variegated  Chinese   lanterns.     Above   the 

272 


stage  was  draped  a  large  Irish  flag,  distinguishing  the 
nationality.  The  Hibernian  Rifle  corps,  who  distin- 
guished themselves  for  excellent  soldiery  bearing 
during  the  parade,  occupied  seats  in  front,  as  did  also 
St.  Joseph's  cadets.  The  Tenth  Regiment  band 
furnished  music.  At  the  opening  of  the  exercises 
Rev.  Father  Burke,  of  St.  Joseph's,  invoked  the 
divine  blessing.  Then  a  quartette,  consisting  of 
Messrs.  William  Toole,  James  Mahan,  Stephen  Moran 
and  John  J.  Phelan,  rendered  a  selection  with  excel- 
lent effect.  After  a  very  enjoyable  reading  by  Miss 
Bertie  Brice  and  the  old  tune,  "  Shamus  O'Brien," 
had  been  excellently  rendered  by  Mr.  Edward  Hanlon, 
Gen.  Tracey  introduced  Hon.  Hugh  Reilly,  the  orator 
of  the  day.  Mr.  Reilly,  in  his  effort,  fully  sustained 
his  reputation  as  a  public  speaker.  His  manner  was 
very  impressive  and  he  was  thoroughly  familiar  with 
his  subject.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  address  as 
delivered  was  not  committed  to  writing,  but  the  sub- 
stance is  preserved  in  the  following  report  compiled 
from  his  notes.    Mr.  Reilly  spoke  somewhat  as  follows  : 

ADDRESS    OF    HONORABLE   HUGH    REILLY. 

I.ADiES  AND  Gentlemen  :  On  such  an  occasion  as  this, 
which  has  for  its  object  the  commemoration  of  the  Two 
Hundredth  Birthday  of  a  great,  free  city,  the  Irish  people 
would  naturally  participate.  Their  inherent  love  of  liberty, 
their  hatred  of  anything  akin  to  despotism  or  tyranny,  would 
cause  them  instinctively  to  cordially  join  in  such  festivities. 
But  aside  from  this  general  reason  why  our  race  should  be 
an  active  factor  in  to-day's  celebration,  there  are  many  and 
special  motives  which  impel  them  as  a  distinct  race  to  give 
expression  to  their  joy  at  the  successful  termination  of  the 
second  century  of  the  city's  municipal  existence. 

To  outline  and  hurriedly  sketch  these  particular  reasons 
will  be  the  subject  of  my  brief  address  to-day,  and  after  the 

273 


hasty  examination  which  I  have  made  of  the  connection  of 
the  Irish  people  with  the  rise,  progress  and  history  of  this 
ancient  town,  I  experienced  a  feehng  of  sincere  regret  that 
the  task  had  not  fallen  to  an  abler  representative,  and  that 
ample  time  had  not  been  given  for  preparation. 

The  connection  of  the  Irish  people  with  the  history  of 
this  citv  dates  from  its  very  inception.  That  charter  which 
created  it,  which  gave  it  special  privileges  and  liberties,  and 
the  constitution  and  characteristics  of  a  city  was  given  and 
granted  and  signed  by  an  Irishman.  Thomas  Dongan, 
whose  signature  is  appended  to  that  venerable  parchment, 
was  then  the  Governor  of  this  province,  and  the  representa- 
tive of  the  king  and  government  which  then  controlled  its 
destinies.  So  at  the  beginning  of  our  municipal  career  we 
find  an  Irishman  in  command.  The  Governor  of  a  colony 
remote  from  the  home  government  and  separated  from  it  by 
the  trackless  ocean. 

I  must  confess  that  I  had  my  misgivings  when  I  under- 
took the  execution  of  my  task,  as  to  the  nature  and  character 
of  the  man,  who  two  centuries  ago  wielded  the  power  of  the 
crown  in  this  rude  province. 

History  had  taught  me  that  in  the  main  such  colonial  and 
provincial  rulers  were  far  from  praisworthy  personages. 
The  annals  of  all  time  had  demonstrated  that  men  clothed 
with  such  unlimited  powers  and  arbitrary  dominion  became 
the  most  oppressive  of  tyrants,  the  most  rapacious  of  men, 
and  I  feared  to  find  that  in  this  instance  history  had  repeated 
itself.  It  was  hard  to  believe  that  a  soldier,  practically  an 
exile,  intrusted  with  the  entire  control  of  a  semi-barbarous 
colony,  beyond  the  vision  of  the  home  government  and 
thousands  of  miles  away  from  its  control,  would  be  found  to 
be  other  than  a  tyrant. 

Yet  what  a  glad  surprise  to  discover  that  the  Governor  was 
an  exception  to  die  rule,  and  that  to-day  I  could  truthfully 
depict  him  in  terms  of  almost  unmeasured  praise.  Whether 
that  praise  is  well  bestowed  I  leave  to  you  to  judge  from  the 
historical  facts  which  I  will  now  present — facts  which  are 
indisputably  verified  in  all  the  records  and  chronicles  of  his 
time. 

Thomas  Dongan  was  the  younger  son  of  an  Irish  baronet, 
and  was  born  in  1634.  He  was  the  son  of  Sir  John  Don- 
gan, a  representative  of  a  very  ancient  Roman  Catholic 
family.     He  was  also  a  nephew  of  the  famous  Duke  of  Tyr- 


274 


connel,  lord-lieutenant  of  Ireland.  There  were  nine  sons 
and  three  daughters  in  the  family,  which  was  one  of  strong 
influence  and  devoted  adherents  of  the  house  of  Stuart, 
Charles  II.  being  then  the  occupant  of  the  English  throne. 
When  Governor  Dongan  was  a  mere  boy,  the  English  king, 
Charles  I.,  met  his  death  upon  the  scaffold,  and  the  govern- 
ment passed  into  the  control  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  who,  when 
he  had  finished  the  subjugation  of  his  English  subjects, 
turned  his  attention  across  the  water  to  Ireland,  and  made 
that  fair  land  feel  the  effects  of  his  bloody  invasion.  It  may 
well  be  imagined  that  his  native  land  did  not  afford  to  young 
Dongan  an  inviting  abiding  place.  Partisans  of  the  house 
of  Stuart,  and  more  especially  Catholic  ones,  were  not  much 
in  favor  with  Cromwell  and  his  followers.  At  such  a  time 
young  Dongan  came  to  maturity,  and  like  so  many  of  his 
race  was  obliged  to  seek  an  asylum  in  exile.  He  became  a 
soldier  in  the  famous  Irish  brigade,  and  remained  in  the 
French  service  long  after  the  restoration,  when  Charles 
the  Second  regained  the  English  throne.  The  king  not 
long  after  bestowed  upon  his  brother,  the  Duke  of  York, 
this  province,  whence  its  name  is  derived,  although  it  was  at 
the  time  in  the  possession  of  the  Dutch,  a  circumstance  not 
regarded  of  much  weight  by  English  kings  at  any  time. 

While  Dongan  was  still  serving  as  colonel  of  an  Irish  regi- 
ment in  the  service  of  the  French  king  in  1677,  King 
Charles  issued  a  peremptory  order  requiring  all  English  sub- 
jects to  quit  France  in  forty- eight  hours.  Colonel  Dongan, 
ever  loyal,  yielded  prompt  obedience  to  the  royal  mandate, 
and  left  France  with  large  arrears  of  pay  due  him  and  re- 
turned to  England.  In  1682  the  Duke  of  York  appointed 
him  Governor  of  the  province  of  New  York,  which  at  that 
time  included  a  vast  territory,  embracing  part  of  Maine  and 
extending  from  the  west  side  of  the  Connecticut  river  to 
Delaware  bay.  On  August  25,  1683,  he  arrived  in  the  city 
of  New  York  and  assumed  the  government  of  the  province. 
It  is  from  this  point  that  the  history  of  Dongan  becomes 
most  interesting. 

It  will  be  necessary  to  take  a  brief  retrospect  of  the  history 
of  the  province  prior  to  Dongan's  arrival.  In  1664  the 
province  was  in  the  possession  of  the  Dutch,  when  an  Eng- 
lish fleet  bombarded  the  city  of  New  Amsterdam,  as  they 
called  it,  and  the  Dutch  capitulated,  and  Gov.  Lovelace 
became  Governor. 


275 


Gov.  Lovelace  immediately  dispatched  some  soldiers 
under  command  of  Capt.  John  Manning,  to  reduce  Albany 
to  subjection  to  the  new  order  of  things.  Manning  fulfilled 
his  mission,  and  Fort  Orange  became  Fort  Albany,  and  the 
Dutch  garrison  gave  way  to  English  soldiers.  Things  re- 
mained in  this  shape  until  1673,  when  Capt.  Manning,  then 
being  commander-in-chief  in  New  York,  and  Deputy  Gov- 
ernor of  the  province,  the  Dutch  retook  possession.  It  is 
interesting  here  to  note  that  Irishmen  were  already  residents 
of  the  province,  although  I  am  free  to  confess  that  I  base 
the  a.ssertion  simply  upon  the  names  which  appear  in  the 
records  of  these  times,  and  the  fact  that  the  Duke  of  York 
had  a  great  liking  for  the  Irish.  Among  the  soldiers  in  the 
fort  when  the  Dutch  retook  it  were  Captain  John  Manning, 
Sergeants  Patrick  Dowdall  and  John  Fitzgerald,  and  Lewis 
Collins  and  Thomas  Quinn.  There  were  only  fifty  soldiers 
in  all.  That  there  were  Irishmen  in  the  province  prior  to 
that  time  cannot  be  proved  from  the  absence  of  Irish  names 
in  the  records,  for  the  Dutch  so  modified  the  orthography 
that  no  linguist  could  trace  them.  As  for  instance,  in  the 
ancient  records  of  this  county  will  be  found  that  in  the  year 
1657  a  conveyance  was  made  to  "Jan  Andriesse  (the  Irish- 
man at  Katskill)."  Certainly  without  the  addition,  nobody 
would  ever  suspect  his  nationality.  This  great  province  was 
then  governed  with  an  iron  hand  ;  the  powers  lodged  in  the 
Governor  were  absolute.  He  exercised  all  the  functions  of 
government.  There  was  no  representation  of  the  people 
either  in  legislating  or  in  matters  of  taxation.  Yet  one  of 
Dongan's  first  acts  was  the  calling  of  a  general  assembly, 
elected  by  the  people,  which  assembled  in  October,  1683, 
one  of  whose  first  laws  was  the  charter  of  liberties  and  priv- 
ileges, which  provided  for  the  election  of  members  of 
assembly  every  three  years.  It  also  declared  liberty  of 
conscience  and  freedom  of  worship,  and  it  further  established 
the  great  principle  for  the  maintenance  of  which  the  war  of 
the  Revolution  was  fought,  that  there  should  be  no  taxes  im- 
posed except  by  act  of  the  Governor  and  assembly.  In 
1687,  the  declaration  of  indulgence  was  promulgated,  which 
authorized  public  worship  by  any  sect  and  repealed  all 
religious  qualifications  for  oftice. 

The  duties  of  Governor  Dongan  were  very  severe.  At 
the  north  he  had  to  protect  Albany  and  the  adjacent  county 
from  the  attacks  of  the  French  and  hostile  Indians.     On  the 


276 


Connecticut  border  he  had  to  repel  the  encroachment  of  the 
New  England  colonists.  On  the  Pennsylvania  border  Penn 
sought  to  extend  his  dominions.  In  his  war  with  the  French 
he  was  compelled,  in  order  to  raise  funds,  to  sell  his  plate 
and  furniture,  and  mortgage  his  lands,  at  a  cost  to  himself 
of  nearly  his  entire  fortune,  $50,000,  which  an  ungrateful 
government  never  repaid  him. 

On  the  22d  of  July,  1686,  Governor  Dongan  dehvered  to 
the  first  mayor  the  charter  of  the  city  of  Albany,  which  still 
exists  in  the  municipal  records.  A  charter  which,  with  few 
changes,  remained  in  force  until  the  year  1870,  and  is  a 
model  in  its  way. 

Of  Dongan's  character  the  records  of  those  troublous  times 
speak  only  in  praise.  Smith,  the  colonial  historian  says : 
"  He  was  a  man  of  integrity,  moderation  and  genteel 
manners." 

Hinckley,  of  Plymouth,  a  zealous  Puritan,  said  :  "  He 
was  of  a  noble,  praiseworthy  mind  and  spirit,  taking  care 
that  all  the  people  in  each  town  did  their  duty  in  maintaining 
the  minister  of  the  place  though  himself  of  a  different 
opinion  of  their  way,"  and  Dominie  Selyns  wrote  to  the 
classis  at  Amsterdam,  that  Governor  Dongan  was  "a  man 
of  knowledge,  politeness  and  friendliness." 

In  1688  Governor  Dongan's  public  life  ceased  and  Gov- 
ernor Andres  succeeded  him.  He  was  offered  a  regiment 
and  the  rank  of  major-general  by  King  James,  but  he  re- 
fused, and  retired  to  his  country  seat  on  Long  Island.  The 
English  revolution  swept  King  James  from  his  throne,  and 
William  and  Mary  were  proclaimed.  When  the  news  of  the 
change  reached  New  York,  Jacob  Leisler,  a  fanatic  and 
bigot,  seized  the  fort  and  pretended  that  the  partisans  of 
King  James  had  formed  a  plot  to  seize  the  province.  Loud 
cries  of  a  papist  plot  were  raised.  Governor  Andres  was 
arrested  at  Boston.  Dongan,  charged  as  a  papist,  was 
hunted  about  from  place  to  place,  and  writs  issued  for  his 
apprehension.  After  lying  in  the  bay  for  a  fortnight  waiting 
to  sail  for  England,  stress  of  weather  compelled  his  return. 
He  escaped  to  Rhode  Island  and  reached  England  in  1691. 
A  new  Governor  was  appomted  and  Leisler  met  a  deserved 
fate  on  the  scaffold.  Dongan  found  his  brother,  the  Earl  of 
Limerick,  an  exile,  and  the  family  estates  confiscated.  His 
brother  died  in  1698  and  Thomas  Dongan  became  Earl  of 
Limerick.     He  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  a  vain 


277 


endeavor  to  collect  his  claim  from  the  government,  ^17,000. 
An  act  of  parliament  was  passed  in  1702  recognizing  his 
claim  to  the  family  estates,  but  he  could  only  redeem  them 
on  payment  of  incumbrances  placed  on  them  by  the  Dutch 
general  to  whom  they  were  given.  In  1704  he  petitioned 
Queen  Anne  for  a  third  of  his  debt,  oftering  to  release  the 
rest,  and  stating  that  it  would  be  better  for  him  to  live  in 
Turkey  than  in  P^ngland,  But  it  did  not  seem  to  avail  him, 
for  in  1714  he  states  that,  after  paying  his  brother's  debts 
ami  his  own,  he  had  little  left  for  his  support.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1 71 5,  the  last  Earl  of  Limerick  of  his  race  died  peace- 
fully in  London.  On  his  tombstone,  at  St.  Pancras,  is  this 
simple  inscription  :  "The  Right  Hon.  Thos.  Dongan,  Earl 
of  Limerick,  died  Dec.  n,  1715,  aged  81  years.  Requiscat 
in  pace,  amen,"  Hon.  James  W.  Gerard,  to  whose  essay 
on  the  New  York  charter  granted  by  Dongan  about  the  same 
time  as  our  charter,  I  am  much  indebted  for  the  materials 
of  this  address,  in  concluding  a  notice  of  Dongan  says:  "He 
was  a  man  of  experience  in  war  and  politics,  and  filled  the 
public  duties  of  his  difficult  post  with  activity  and  wisdom. 
He  was  considerate  and  moderate  in  his  government — ^just 
and  tolerant — and  his  personal  character  was  that  of  an 
upright  and  courteous  gentleman." 

I  have  devoted  considerable  time  to  the  consideration  of 
his  deeds,  but  he  was  a  noble  Irishman  and  well  deserves  it, 
and  the  Irish  people  owe  a  debt  of  everlasting  gratitude  to 
his  memory.  The  recent  foundation  of  the  "  Dongan  Club," 
by  representative  young  Irishmen  of  the  city,  is  a  fitting, 
and  I  trust  a  lasting  monument  to  his  worth. 

From  the  time  of  Dongan  to  the  Revolution  the  records 
do  not  furnish  us  many  data  in  reference  to  the  Irish  in  this 
city.  We  find  that  Dongan  himself  strongly  urged  upon  his 
king  to  send  Irish  colonists  "  who  could  live  happily  here." 
This  appeal  is  published  in  the  "  Documentary  History  of 
New  York."  Whether  they  were  sent  or  not  is  not  neces- 
sary to  determine,  although  as  early  as  1720  we  find  among 
the  few  city  freeholders  here  such  names  of  Daniel  Kelly, 
William  and  John  Hogan  and  John  Collins,  which  bear  a 
strong  impress  of  Irish  origin.  In  1729  we  learn  that  a 
number  of  Irish  families  from  county  Longford,  who  had 
landed  at  Cape  Cod,  moved  westward  to  the  banks  of  the 
Hudson  river.  Among  these  was  Charles  Clinton,  whose 
family  gave  two  governors  to  the  State,  George  and  De  Witt 

278 


Clinton.  In  1755  Philip  Mullen  was  firemaster  of  the  city, 
and  in  1755  Philip  Ryley  was  the  person  in  charge  of  the 
town  clock.  In  1770  we  find  Pat  Clark,  Pat  McGrigor, 
Owen  Lynch,  James  Marr,  Pat  Cooney,  John  Brien,  Luke 
Cassidy,  John  O'Brien,  Pat  Gahigan,  Ryan,  McCue,  Moore, 
Daley  and  Dempsey  among  the  inhabitants. 

In  the  era  of  the  Revolution,  while  history  gives  but  little 
light  upon  the  deeds  of  Irishmen  in  this  locality,  save  of  the 
heroic  Montgomery  and  Clintons,  the  action  of  the  race, 
both  at  home  and  abroad,  show  that  their  sympathies  were 
with  the  colonies.  At  home  Burke,  Barre  and  Sheridan 
eloquently  defended  the  patriotic  cause,  and  the  Irish  com- 
mons refused  a  vote  of  money  to  be  used  against  them.  Of 
the  fifty  six  names  attached  to  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence, nine  are  of  Irish  origin.  Four  Irish  commodores, 
including  the  illustrious  Barry  and  Charles  Stewart,  "  Old 
Ironsides,"  the  ancestor  of  the  renowned  Parnell,  shed  lustre 
on  the  Irish  name.  In  the  army,  General  Sullivan  and  Mad 
Anthony  Wayne,  both  of  Irish  descent,  fought  nobly  with 
their  patriotic  brethren  against  the  British  foe.  So  it  can  be 
fairly  assumed  that  Albany's  Irishmen  in  those  stirring  times 
did  their  duty. 

From  the  time  that  America  shook  off  the  English  hold, 
the  records  of  Irishmen  in  this  city  are  more- numerous  and 
frequent.  In  1788  we  find  Robert  and  John  Barber,  Long- 
ford county  Irishmen,  setded  here  as  State  i)rinters  and 
engaged  in  publishing  the  Albany  Register.  This  was  more 
than  a  century  after  the  granting  of  the  charter,  and  yet  we 
find  that  the  city  had  grown  very  slowl3\  This  was  due 
mainly  to  the  fact  that  many  of  the  early  settlers  considered 
it  but  a  temporary  abiding  place  for  purposes  of  commerce 
only,  and  many  of  the  Dutch,  after  accumulating  wealth, 
returned  either  to  Holland  or  to  New  York,  where  greater 
conveniences  of  life  could  be  obtained.  The  population 
was  in  1790  less  than  3,500.  But  a  new  order  of  things 
ensued  and  emigrants  rapidly  arrived  who  came  to  stay. 

In  1796,  the  Irish  had  become  so  numerous  that  they 
commenced  the  erection  of  the  original  St.  Mary's  church, 
and  Thomas  Barry,  Daniel  McEwen,  Terence  O'Donnell, 
Jeremiah  Driskill,  Michael  Begley,  William  Donovan  and 
Philip  Farley  were  the  trustees.  At  this  time  the  population 
was  about  4,000,  exclusive  of  slaves,  and  was  composed  of 
people  of  all  nations,  and  more  tongues  were  spoken  here 


279 


than  in  any  other  part  of  the  country.  Ten  years  later  the 
increase  was  so  great  that  a  special  act  of  the  legislature  was 
passed  incorporating  the  St.  Patrick's  society  of  the  city  of 
Albany,  the  objects  being  "to  afford  relief  to  indigent  and 
distressed  emigrants  from  the  kingdom  of  Ireland."  This 
act  became  a  law  February  6,  1807. 

So  that  at  this  early  day  we  find  the  Irish  already  in  occu- 
pancy of  their  own  church  and  organized  into  a  society  for 
their  own  protection.  The  officers,  in  1813,  were  Thomas 
Hannan,  president;  Hugh  Flynn,  vice-president;  CorneHus 
Dunn,  treasurer;  John  Reddy,  secretary. 

In  1 813  the  first  directory  of  this  city  was  published  and 
is  still  extant,  and  a  hasty  perusal  of  the  few  names  in  it 
shows  that  the  Emerald  Isle  was  well  represented.  There 
were  Barry s,  Byers  and  Buckley,  Burkes  and  Cassidys, 
Clarks,  Coles,  Connells  and  Connellys,  Courtneys,  Delaneys, 
Doyles,  Dufifys,  Dunns,  Flynns,  Furlongs,  Gillespies, 
Graces,  Hogans,  Haggertys,  Harts,  Kanes,  Kennedys, 
Loudens,  Lynchs,  McCabes,  McCarthys,  McCoUums, 
McGills,  Maguffins,  Mathers,  Mannings,  Moores,  Murphys, 
Murrays,  Nugents,  Rileys,  Tierneys  and  Walshs,  and  yet  at 
this  time  the  population  was  but  little  over  10,000. 

In  the  year  previous,  P^ngland  had  resorted  to  the  extreme 
of  boarding  our  vessels  on  the  high  seas  and  impressing  such 
persons  found  thereon  whom  they  deemed  to  be  P2nglish 
subjects ;  in  the  war  which  resulted,  the  Irish  of  Albany 
were  not  unrepresented.  James  Maher  organized  an  Albany 
regiment  known  as  the  "  Irish  Greens,"  which,  under  his 
captaincy,  did  valiant  service  in  the  battle  against  their 
hereditary  enemy  at  Lundy's  Lane  and  at  Sackett's  Harbor, 
and  when  the  English  were  everywhere  repulsed,  returned  to 
the  city,  and  were  received  with  the  utmost  enthusiasm. 
Captain  Maher  was  also  for  a  considerable  period  the  libra- 
rian of  the  State  Library. 

In  1823,  when  a  public  ceremony  was  had  in  celebration 
of  the  completion  of  the  Erie  canal,  a  work  undertaken  by 
Governor  DeWitt  CHnton,  a  descendant  of  Charles  Clinton, 
a  Longford  county  Irishman,  the  St.  Patrick's  society  of  this 
city  paraded.  John  Cassidy  was  a  member  of  the  common 
council  committee  which  had  the  matter  in  charge.  The 
society  was  under  the  command,  as  the  records  of  that  early 
day  say,  of  that  veteran  river  navigator.  Captain  Peter 
Donnelly. 

280 


In  1825  we  find  Cassidy,  Costigan  and  Maher  in  the  list 
of  aldermanic  candidates. 

In  1829  the  Uttle  church  was  outgrown  and  a  new  one 
erected  on  the  same  site  and  the  corner  stone  laid  by  John 
Cassidy.  The  trustees  were  Thomas  Gough,  a  well-known 
banker,  James  Maher,  the  valiant  captain  of  the  "  Irish 
Greens,"  John  Reynolds,  William  Howe,  Patrick  McQuade, 
Timothy  Hayes. 

In  1833  an  act  was  passed  incorporating  the  Hibernian 
Provident  society,  one  of  whose  objects  was  "  to  bring  be- 
fore the  American  people  the  republican  features  of  the  Irish 
character."  The  incorporators  were  James  HaUiday,  James 
Maher,  William  Osborne,  Peter  C.  Doyle,  Thomas  Gough, 
William  O'Donnel,  Michael  Cagger  and  others. 

This  society  became  a  prominent  institution  of  the  city, 
and  in  its  long  and  honorable  career  did  much  to  advance 
the  patriotic  and  charitable  purposes  of  its  incorporation. 

From  this  time  onward  the  annals  of  the  city  are  replete 
with  the  records  of  distinguished  Irishmen  and  their  de- 
scendants. Here  ministered  Father  McCloskey,  first  bishop 
of  the  city  and  first  cardinal  of  the  church  in  America.  Dr. 
Edmund  B.  O'Callaghan  here  wrote  his  History  of  the  New 
Netherlands  and  the  Documentary  History  of  New  York. 
Peter  Cagger,  the  brilliant  lawyer,  the  astute  politician,  the 
Warwick  of  his  time.  William  Cassidy,  the  brilliant  jour- 
nalist and  accomplished  scholar.  John  Tracey,  the  philan- 
thropic and  public  spirited  citizen.  John  McKnight,  John 
Manning,  Dennis  B.  Gaffney,  John  J.  Marrin,  George  Hill, 
David  Orr,  James  Quinn  and  his  son,  Terence  J.  Quinn, 
all  kindliness  and  charity.  But  their  names  are  legion,  and 
it  would  be  invidious  to  make  any  selections.  Suffice  it  to 
say  that  in  all  the  walks  of  life,  professional  or  commercial, 
the  Irish  race,  for  the  past  half  century,  has  played  a  promi- 
nent and  creditable  part,  as  it  has  in  the  official  prepara- 
tions for  the  week,  wherein  we  are  chiefly  represented  by  the 
Hon.  Michael  N.  Nolan,  Albany's  first  Irish-born  Mayor. 
And  when  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago  the  dark  clouds  of 
civil  war  swept  over  the  land,  no  race  of  men  in  this  nation 
rallied  so  quickly  and  so  numerously  to  secure  the  safety  of 
the  Republic  as  the  Irish.  The  Irishmen  of  Albany 
were  no  exception.  The  heroes  of  that  race  were  legion. 
The  thrilling  scenes,  the  fearful  havoc,  the  valiant  deeds 
of  that  conflict   are   fresh   in    the   minds   of  our   people. 


281 


Among  the  first  to  respond  to  President  Lincoln's  call  for 
volunteers  was  the  Twenty-fifth  regiment  of  this  city,  under 
the  command  of  that  heroic  Irishman,  Col.  Michael  K. 
Bryan,  The  enthusiasm  which  greeted  these  noble  fellows 
as  the  colors  of  the  regiment  were  handed  to  the  colonel  by 
Mrs.  Thacher,  the  respected  wife  of  the  then  mayor  and 
father  of  the  gentleman  who  now  fills  that  honorable  office, 
cannot  now  be  described.  And  when  the  news  was  borne 
to  this  city  that  the  fearless  soldier  had  been  killed  at  Port 
Hudson,  on  June  14,  1863,  the  city  was  wrapped  in  sorrow. 
Col.  Bryan's  memory  should  ever  be  kept  green  in  the  hearts 
of  his  grateful  countrymen.  But  the  list  of  those  brave 
fellows  who  fouglit  and  bled  and  died  that  their  country 
might  live,  is  a  long  and  a  sad  one,  and  time  will  not  allow 
more  than  a  brief  mention  of  their  sad  fate.  Col.  James  P. 
McMahon,  a  Wexford  boy,  fell  at  Cold  Harbor  in  1864 
with  the  colors  in  his  hands.  Col.  Michael  B.  Staftbrd, 
Major  Miles  McDonald,  Capt.  Edward  B.  Carroll,  Capt. 
John  McGuire,  Capt.  John  Sullivan,  Lieut.  Dempsey,  Lieut. 
William  Emmet  Orr,  Lieut.  Patrick  Maher,  Capt.  William 
Murray,  Hugh  Hammill,  were  among  those  brave  soldiers 
who  on  the  battlefield  went  down,  and  whose  courage  in 
that  memorable  conflict  shed  lustre  on  the  Irish  name. 
Let  us  in  this  moment  of  rejoicing  not  forget  the  sad  fate 
of  these  heroes,  at  the  same  time  remembering  that 

"  Whether  on  the  scaffold  high, 
Or  in  the  battle's  van, 
The  fittest  place  where  man  can  die 
Is  where  he  dies  for  man." 


The  growth  of  the  Irish  race  in  this  city  is  remarkable. 
The  best  authority  puts  the  Irish  population,  including  those 
of  immediate  Irish  descent,  at  not  less  than  one  third  of  the 
entire  population  of  100,000,  while  some  put  it  at  one-half, 
The  last  State  census  of  1875  shows  the  number  of  inhabit- 
ants actually  born  in  Ireland  to  be  14,184  out  of  a  total  of 
86,541,  or  nearly  one-sixth.  The  last  United  States  census 
of  1880  ascertains  the  number  of  our  inhabitants  actually 
born  in  Ireland  to  be  12,575  ^^^  of  a  total  of  90,578,  or 
nearly  one-seventh.  A  careful  examination  of  the  assess- 
ment rolls  of  the  city  show  that  out  of  the  18,134  pieces  of 
property  assessed  (which  does  not  include  corporations)  that 


282 


5,927  a-re  assessed  to  persons  of  distinctive  Irish  names. 
And  this  property  has  not  been  acquired  for  a  song  or  a 
string  of  beads  from  the  Indians,  but  has  been  purchased  by 
honest  beads  of  perspiration  and  literal  "  sweat  of  the  brow  " 
of  the  possessors.  From  these  figures  it  can  readily  be  seen 
that  the  Irish  and  their  children  will  be  called  upon  to  take 
a  prominent  part  in  the  future  of  this  city,  as  they  have  in 
the  past.  Even  if  the  tide  of  emigration  from  the  Emerald 
Isle  should  entirely  cease  the  number  of  the  race  now  here, 
and  their  descendants  "  to  the  manner  born,"  will  necessarily 
make  them  a  potent  factor  in  municipal  affairs. 

How  will  that  influence  be  exercised  ?  The  future  alone 
will  answer,  but  in  this  time  of  crying  need  for  a  better  ad- 
ministration of  the  government  of  cities,  I  have  confidence 
in  the  good  sense  of  the  Irish  race  to  endeavor  to  secure 
needed  reforms.  If  they  must  take  part  in  the  municipal 
affairs,  why  should  they  not  lead  in  the  direction  of  economy 
and  pure  government  ?  Why  should  they  not  emulate  the 
example  of  their  fellow  countryman,  the  illustrious  Dongan, 
and  follow  in  the  paths  he  has  made  ?  We  could  pay  no 
greater  tribute  to  his  memory  and  worth  than  by  endeavoring 
manfully  to  secure  a  wise,  economical  and  honest  adminis- 
tration of  public  affairs.  '  Such  a  course  would  commend  us 
to  our  fellow-citizens,  and  increase  the  respect  and  esteem 
in  which  they  already  hold  us. 

The  Irish  race  can  have  no  sympathy  or  affiliation  with 
socialism  or  communism.  While  they  will  struggle  manfully 
in  a  lawful  manner  for  the  rights  of  the  masses,  yet  when,  if 
ever,  the  red  tide  of  anarchy  assails  us,  they  will  be  found 
on  the  side  of  law  and  order,  of  protection  to  property  and 
the  family  relations.  In  this,  as  in  other  duties  of  citizen- 
ship, I  have  implicit  faith  in  the  people  whose  hearts  are 
filled  with  too  much  gratitude  to  the  land  of  their  adoption, 
which  received  them  with  open  arms  in  their  distress,  to  per- 
mit them  to  destroy  or  aid  in  destroying  the  institutions  and 
laws  they  have  sworn  to  obey. 

A  duet,  Venetian  boat  song,  was  then  rendered  by 
the  Messrs.  Phenie  and  Efifie  Gannon,  and  Mr.  T.  J. 
Lanahan  gave  a  very  excellent  recitation,  followed  by 
a  medley  double  quartette  by  Messrs.  E.  F.  Yorke, 
J.   McCormack,  C.  Colarn,  E.  Hanlon,  J.  O'Neill,  J. 

283 


Gallagher,  H.  Brown,  J.  Frcnidan.  Then  Mr.  M.  J. 
Louden  rendered  an  excellent  poem,  written  for  the 
occasion. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  exercises  at  the  rink  all  of 
the  members  of  the  Irish  societies  marched  to  Wash- 
ington park,  headed  by  the  Tenth  Regiment  band,  for 
the  purpose  of  planting  their  memorial  tree.  The 
crowd  was  so  great  and  pressing  that  it  was  necessary 
for  the  Hibernian  Rifle  corps  to  form  a  line  about  the 
tree.  The  Rev,  Father  Burke  officiated  and  assisted 
in  filling  the  excavation.  He  made  some  fitting  re- 
marks, as  did  also  several  representative  Irish  citizens 
who  were  present.  The  tree  is  set  on  the  east  side 
of  the  German  tree,  and  in  a  line  with  that  and  the 
one  planted  by  the  colored  citizens. 

German    Exercises. 


PLANTING   MEMORIAL   TREES. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  parade,  the  German  socie- 
ties— The  Caecelia,  Liederkranz,  Mozart,  Liederkranz 
O.  S.  D.  F.,  Eintracht  and  Harmonia — headed  by  the 
Albany  City  band,  proceeded  to  Washington  park  to 
plant  the  memorial  oak.  A  large  crowd  had  already 
gathered.  In  the  centre  of  the  croquet  lawn  a  large 
platform  had  been  erected,  which  was  beautifully 
decorated,  being  festooned  with  the  United  States 
colors  and  bearing  the  flags  of  all  nations.  This 
stand  was  occupied  by  the  several  societies.  Several 
selections  were  played  by  the  band.  "  Das  ist  der 
Tag  des  Herrn  "  was  then  sung  by  the  united  socie- 
ties.    On    its  arrival,  the  Germans  headed  by  Presi- 


284 


dent  Bissikummer,  proceeded  to  the  location,  where 
the  tree  was  placed  in  the  excavation  made  for  it  by 
the  president,  who  made  some  appropriate  remarks. 
The  location  of  the  tree  is  directly  north  of  the 
plot  set  aside  for  the  King  fountain.  After  the  earth 
had  been  thrown  about  the  roots  of  the  tree  the  soci- 
eties returned  to  the  grand  stand,  where  the  remainder 
of  the  exercises  were  carried  out,  "  Das  Deutsche 
Lied  "  being  sung  by  a  chorus  of  united  singers. 

AN  ELOQUENT  ADDRESS 

was  then  delivered  in  German  by  Emmanuel  Labi- 
shiner.  He  said  that  from  time  immemorial  it  had 
been  a  custom  of  the  Germans  to  appropriately  ob- 
serve extraordinary  historical  events  by  the  planting 
of  an  oak.  The  custom  was  probably  brought  by 
the  German  forefathers  from  their  early  home,  and 
It  has  been  retained  until  the  present  day.  He  then 
spoke  in  a  feeling  manner  of  the  commemoration  of 
the  two  hundredth  anniversary  of  Albany,  He  op- 
portunely compared  the  growth  of  Albany  to  the 
slow  and  sturdy  growth  of  the  oak,  which,  after  a 
century,  is  the  emblem  of  strength,  Li  conclusion, 
he  said  that  the  Germans,  who  were  thorough  Alba- 
nians, took  a  great  interest  in  the  growth  and  pros- 
perity of  the  city.  The  gentleman's  remarks  were 
well  received,  "  Schlachtenchor  "  was  then  sung  by 
the  chorus  and  a  selection  rendered  by  the  band. 
The  exercises  concluded  by  singing  "America,"  The 
societies  were  then  photographed  by  a  well  known 
artist. 


285 


Exercises  by  Colored  Societies. 


AN  ELM  TREE  PLANTED  WITH  IMPOSING  CEREMONIES. 
After  the  Germans  had  concluded  their  exer- 
cises, the  colored  citizens  proceeded  in  a  body  to 
where  their  elm  tree  was  to  be  planted.  It  is  on  the 
same  plot,  a  few  rods  from  the  German  oak.  Reach- 
ing the  place  the  tree  was  placed  in  position,  and  a 
short  but  fervent  prayer  offered  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Der- 
rick. He  thanked  God  that,  as  representative  of  a 
once  down-trodden  and  despised  race,  which  had 
been  lifted  up,  they  had  the  privilege  enjoyed  on  that 
occasion.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  prayer,  "  Coro- 
nation "  was  sung,  after  which  Mr.  T.  H.  S.  Pennington, 
president  of  the  colored  society,  but  residing  at  Sara- 
toga Springs,  spoke  as  follows : 

To    THE    Mayor,  Common    Council    and    others    of 

THE    Bi-CeNTENNIAL    COMMITTEE  : 

What  a  wonder  !  What  a  crime  !  What  a  shame  !  Two 
hundred  years  ago  the  Dutch  settled  here  to  commence  life 
in  an  independent  way.  After  being  here  a  short  time  by 
trading  with  the  Indians,  who  were  then  the  aborigines  of 
the  country,  they  became  rich,  and  like  all  others,  thought 
they  must  have  servants,  and  not  being  able  to  make 
such  out  of  the  American  Indians,  they  sought  other  fields 
to  procure  the  requisite  laborers.  After  a  short  time  Africa 
was  proposed  by  some  inhuman,  although  Virginia  had 
already  commenced  the  African  slave  trade.  This 
method  of  involuntary  servitude  was  carried  on  in  this 
State  until  about  sixty-eight  or  sixty-nine  years  ago,  when 
the  Legislature  of  the  State  abolished  the  diabolical 
system  of  slavery.  This,  however,  in  one  sense  was  true, 
but  taking  into  consideration  the  many  disadvantages  that 
the  descendants  of  Ham  labored  under,  on  account  of  color, 
and  their  former  condition,  we  might  almost  as  well  have 
remained  as  we  were.  But  the  Bi-centennial  has  brought 
about  a  great  change.      To-day,  that  once  persecuted  race, 

286 


meets  here  on  one  broad  platform,  and  independent  with 
all  nations,  we  have  met  for  the  purpose  of  commemorating 
the  settling  of  Albany,  and  to  perpetuate  the  celebration  of 
the  Bi-centennial.  And  we,  as  a  part  and  parcel  of  this  great 
Republic,  in  common  with  others,  purpose  to  plant  an  elm, 
with  appropriate  tablet  attached,  to  show  our  affiliation  with 
and  approval  of  this  movement. 

Mr.  Robert  J.  Mclntyre  then  followed  with  a  stir- 
ring speech  in  which  he  accepted  the  tree  from  Dr. 
Thomas  E.  Elkins,  who  raised  it  from  a  seed.  He 
said : 

Dr.  Elkins :  As  the  chairman  of  the  Colored  Citizens' 
association  of  this  ancient  and  honorable  city,  it  affords  me 
pleasure  to  be  the  Albanian  to  whom  the  duty  of  the  receipt 
of  this  tree  from  your  hands  should  fall.  You  have  spent  the 
greater  part  of  your  life — now  well  up  in  the  limit  mentioned 
in  Scripture  as  the  time  allotted  to  man — upon  this  part  of 
the  great  State  of  New  York  known  as  Albany.  When  this 
place  was  but  a  wyck,  or  place  of  rest,  as  its  name  implies, 
there  were  among  its  inhabitants  many  people,  mainly  Ger- 
mans, who,  though  not  the  first  to  settle  in  this  new  world, 
still  had  foresight  enough  to  sail  up  the  Hudson  in  search 
ot  a  new  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey.  Time  will  not 
permit  a  complete  recital  of  the  history  of  this  our  native 
city  at  this  time,  still,  as  you  have  staled,  many  years  ago 
the  African  race  which  we,  in  part,  represent,  were  found 
here  serving  as  servants  to  the  farmers  having  secured  these 
rich  lands  from  their  original  owners,  the  Mohawk  tribes  of 
Indians,  and  were  proceeding  to  till  its  soil  and  improve  it 
in  every  manner  till  it  lias  reached  so  near  a  state  of  perfec- 
tion as  you  find  around  and  within  its  borders  to-day.  It  is 
not  my  purpose  to  undertake  to  relate  a  history  of  this  city 
or  our  connection  with  it ;  yet,  I  desire  to  say  that  in  answer 
to  those  ignorant  negroes  who  were  anxious  to  know  of  me 
the  color  and  style  of  our  flag,  I  point  them  with  pride  to 
the  starry  flag,  whose  bright  stars  and  broad  stripes  float  a 
warning  to  all  who  train  under  or  claim  any  other,  and  wish 
to  tell  them  that  in  Africa,  where  all  of  our  forefathers  came 
from  involuntarily,  there  was  no  civilization,  no  education,  no 
houses  and  no  flag,  and  that  having  served  and  fought  and 
bled  and  died  on  America's  shores  we,  too,  have  a  right  to 

287 


feel  at  home  under  its  flag,  which  is  our  flag,  and  though  we 
ap])ear  to-day  in  Hne  as  colored  people,  we  are  the  second 
best  Americans,  and  I  am  proud  to  say,  Albanians. 

I  notice  tliat  the  present  of  this  tree,  whilst  it  marks  an 
era  in  the  history  of  Albany,  is  actually  presented  to  the 
mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  Albany.  I  accept  it, 
therefore,  and  feel  sure  that  its  future  welfare  will  be  looked 
after,  and  that  the  people  who  plant  it  will  exemplify  in  a 
strong  degree  some  of  its  characteristics,  foremost  of  which 
is  its  sturdiness.  We,  like  this  elm  tree,  have  come  here  to  stay, 
Our  German  friends  have  here  erected  one  to  mark  their  part 
in  the  celebration  of  the  two  hundredth  year  of  our  city's 
birth.  To  them  I  say  in  closing,  that  for  courtesies  extended 
to  us  in  this  Bi-centenary,  we  return  thanks.  We  know  them 
as  a  noble,  generous,  hospitable,  loyal  people,  and  I  add  the 
hope  that  this  fresh  bond  of  reciprocal  union  between  them 
and  us  may  soon  tie  us  as  firmly  together  as  the  ivy  does 
the  tree  around  which  it  loves  to  cling.  I  cannot  let  this 
day  pass  without  calling  to  your  minds  a  fault  in  connection 
with  this  park.  Within  this  piece  of  ground  many  of  us 
have  shed  many  bitter  tears  upon  the  graves  of  loved  ones. 
In  my  own  time  I  have  followed  more  than  a  dozen  rela- 
tives to  their  graves,  and  here  in  sight  of  this  place  stands 
the  largest  tree  within  this  park,  an  elm  at  that,  and  it  was 
planted  by  my  mother  when  it  was  but  a  switch  about  fifty 
years  ago.  Joining  with  you  in  the  hope  that  this  tree  may 
grow  to  be  so  large  as  to  attract  attention,  I  thank  you  for  the 
patience  with  which  you  have  listened  to  my  feeble  remarks. 

The  exercises  closed  with  singing  "America."  The 
tree  and  assemblage  was  then  photographed  by  Mr. 
Ashton. 

Scottish  Games. 


A   GLORIOUS    DAY    FOR   THE   CALEDONIANS. 

The  Scottish  games  at  the  Fair  grounds  in  the 
afternoon,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Caledonian  club, 
attracted  several  thousand  people.  All  trains  and 
horse  cars  running  in  that    direction  were  crowded 

288 


The  crowd  kept  increasing  until  nearly  five  o'clock, 
and  it  is  estimated  fully  6,000  men,  women  and 
children  were  scattered  about  the  grounds.  All  kinds 
of  sport  was  available.  In  the  main  hall  Parlati's 
orchestra  furnished  most  excellent  music  for  dancing. 
The  dance  hall  was  liberally  patronized.  The  princi- 
pal attraction,  however,  was  the  athletic  exercises  by 
the  representatives  of  "  Bonnie  Scotland,"  who  were 
present  in  large  numbers.  The  Highland  pipers 
were  numerous  and  attracted  much  attention.  It 
was  nearly  three  o'clock  before  the  events  of  the 
afternoon  were  started.  The  contestants  were  mostly 
professionals  and  the  records  are  consequently  of  the 
best.  The  events  contested  and  the  winners  of  the 
first  prizes,  which  varied  from  five  dollars  to  fifty 
dollars,  follows : 

Best  Highland  costume,  gold  medal  valued  at  ten 
dollars,  won  by  W.  S.  Mitchell,  of  Albany ;  200  yards 
race,  for  members  only,  Thomas  Kirkpatrick ;  putting 
heavy  stone,  S.  D.  McLean,  thirty- seven  feet  ten 
inches ;  running  hop-step-and-jump,  Barrows,  forty- 
one  feet;  hop-step-and-jump,  extra  for  members, 
Hyslop,  thirty-seven  feet  eleven  inches  ;  putting  light 
stone,  O.  Clark,  thirty-six  feet  seven  inches ;  running 
long  jump.  Barrows,  twenty-one  feet  eleven  inches ; 
throwing  light  hammer,  O.  Clark,  ninety-seven  feet 
two  inches ;  hitch  and  kick,  Slader,  nine  feet  ten 
inches ;  half  mile  race,  Hyslop,  two  minutes  and 
fifteen  seconds ;  mile  race.  Grant,  four  minutes  and 
nineteen  and  a  half  seconds ;  tug-of-war  between 
eight  men  captained  by  James  Cochrane,  and  a  like 
number  captained   by  George   Cruikshank,  was  won 

289 


by  Cochrane's  men.  Following  was  the  team  :  Wil- 
liam Blackburn,  James  Kirkpatrick,  Robert  Lockhart, 
James  Gow,  Silas  Brewster,  Reginald  Kirkpatrick  and 
A.  Salmond.  Bag-pipe  competition,  Sinclair  Swan- 
son  ;  tossing  the  caber,  Johnson,  forty-one  feet  and 
seven  and  one-half  inches ;  best  highland  fling  cos- 
tume, Malcom  McNeil ;  throwing  heavy  hammer, 
Cattarnech,  eighty-nine  feet  ten  inches ;  hurdle  race, 
Barrows;  vaulting  with  pole, tie  between  Kirkpatrick 
and  Clark,  nine  feet  and  seven  inches  each ;  running 
high  jump,  Johnston,  five  feet  seven  inches ;  sword 
dance,  Sinclair ;  five-mile  race,  James  Grant,  Boston, 
twenty-five  minutes  and  twenty-four  and  a  half 
seconds. 

The  Aquatic  Carnival, 


FIRST   DAY   OF  THE  REGATTA  AT   PLEASURE   ISLAND. 

The  weather  and  water  experienced  during  the  first 
day  of  the  national  regatta  of  the  Amateur  associa- 
tion could  hardly  have  been  more  suitable  if  it  had 
been  especially  ordered  for  the  occasion.  The 
severity  of  the  sun's  rays  was  most  pleasantly  miti- 
gated by  clouds  that  threatened  rain,  but  which 
considerately  withheld  their  burden  with  the  exception 
of  a  few  scattering  drops,  which  did  no  harm  and 
provided  a  little  pleasant  employment,  as  the  spec- 
tators sought  the  friendly  and  convenient  shelter  of 
the  pavilion.  The  rain  came  late  and  in  so  small  a 
quantity  that  no  harm  ensued,  and  the  people  were 
soon  back  in  their  positions  on  the  stand  and  along 
the  front  of  the   island,  placidly  awaiting   the   next 

290 


event  on  the  programme.  A  pleasant  and  exhilara- 
ting breeze  blew  on  the  island  during  the  greater 
part  of  the  afternoon,  but  with  hardly  sufficient  force 
to  even  ripple  the  surface  of  the  course  over  which 
the  contests  of  the  day  were  so  stubbornly  fought. 

The  referee  was  Mr.  Harvey  K,  Hinchman,  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  a  member  of  the  executive  committee, 
Mr.  Parker  W.  Page,  judge  at  the  finish,  and  Messrs. 
E.  Stanley  Foster  and  R.  O.  Morse  as  time-keepers. 
The  referee's  boat  was  the  tug  Susie,  while  the  guests 
of  the  committee  occupied  the  Fuller,  and  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  press  was  the  Wotkyns,  which  had 
been  placed  by  the  committee  in  charge  of  Mr. 
Charles  J.  Hailes. 

FIRST   HEAT   OF   JUNIOR   SINGLES. 

The  weather  was  lowering,  but  the  rain  that 
threatened  kindly  held  off.  The  water  was  in  good 
condition,  wind  rather  flawy  from  the  west,  and  tide 
in  the  ebb.  These  men  started :  i .  O.  W.  Dyer, 
Crescent  B.  C,  Boston,  Mass;  2.  M.  T.  Quigley, 
Institute  B.  C,  Newark,  N.  J;  3.  Thomas  Hield, 
Pioneer  B.  C,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  4.  B.  J.  Mullins, 
Albany  R.  C. 

The  start  was  at  i  :  50  P.  M.  Quigley  led  from 
start  to  finish,  Mullins  being  beaten  by  only  a 
length.     Time,  8:  59;   Mullins,  9:  03^. 

THE   FIRST   HEAT   SENIOR   SINGLES 
was  started  at  2 :  20,  and  was  a  magnificent  struggle 
The  following  three  started,  the  water  being  in  better 
condition    than    in  the   first   heat :    i .  Peter  Snyder, 
Mutual  B.  C,  Albany,  N.  Y. ;   2.   Edward  J.  Mulcahy, 

291 


Mutaal    B.    C,   Albany,   N.  Y. ;   3.  John   D.    Ryan, 
Bradford  B,  C,  Boston,  Mass. 

Mulcahy  got  the  best  of  the  start,  and  soon  settled 
down  to  along,  powerful,  pretty  sweep.  He  took  the 
lead  from  the  word  go,  and  was  not  headed,  though 
he  apparently  had  hard  work  to  stay  in  front  until  the 
heat  was  finished.  As  they  swept  past  the  grand 
stand  it  was  almost  impossible  from  the  press  boat  to 
say  who  was  leading.  Mulcahy  apparently  had  a 
little  the  better  of  it.  So  it  proved,  the  judge  at  the 
finish  deciding  that  Mulcahy  had  won  by  half  a  length. 
The  time  was:  Mulcahy,  8:31^;  Ryan,  8:33!; 
Snyder,  8 :  4I5. 

SECOND    HEAT,   JUNIOR   SINGLES. 

There  were  three  starters  in  the  heat,  as  follows : 
I.  Edward  Hinton,  Union  Springs  Am.  B.  C. ;  2. 
W.  J.  Gugerty,  Cohoes  B.  C. ;  3.  James  L.  Berry, 
Boiling  Springs  B.  C,  Rutherford,  N.  J. ;  4.  H.  How- 
land,  Cornell  University  Navy,  Ithaca. 

The  heat  was  one  of  the  prettiest  imaginable. 
Berry's  time  was  8:  58,  Howland's,  8:  58I,  Hinton's, 
9  :  o6\,  Gugerty,  9  :  30.  Howland  was  given  the  heat 
and  will  row  in  the  final.     Berry  was  disqualified. 

THE  SECOND  HEAT,  SENIOR  SINGLES, 
was  to  have  been  between  the  following :  J.  J.  Dono- 
hoe.  Nautilus  R.  C.,  Hamilton,  Ont. ;  E.  J.  Carney, 
Institute  B.  C,  Newark,  N.  J.;  James  L.  Nolan, 
Elizabeth  B.  C,  Portsmouth,  Va.  Nolan,  who  was 
also  entered  for  the  junior  race,  remained  out.  Dona- 
hoe  almost  paddled  over  the  course  in  front  of  Carney, 
winning  in  8  :  49^,  Carney,  8:53. 

292 


THE   THIRD    HEAT,    JUNIOR    SINGLES, 
followed  and  had  four  starters,  as  follows:    i.  Elmer 
Van   Benthuysen,  Amber  B.  C,   Amber,  N.  Y. ;   2. 
James  L.  Nolan,   Elizabeth  B.  C,  Portsmouth,  Va. ; 

3.  WilHam  J.  Gleason,  Albany  R.  C,  Albany,  N.  Y. ; 

4.  John  F.  Dailey,  Bradford  B.  C,  Cambridgeport, 
Mass. 

Dailey  got  considerably  the  best  of  the  start,  and 
was  not  headed  during  the  heat.  Nolan  pressed 
Dailey  very  hard,  and  the  latter  won  by  only  a  few 
feet,  after  one  of  the  closest  and  most  exciting  fin- 
ishes of  the  day.  Van  Benthuysen  was  third  and 
Gleason  fourth.  The  time  was:  Dailey,  8:47^; 
Nolan,  8:47!;  Van  Benthuysen,  8:52.  It  was  the 
first  race  in  which  Dailey  ever  started. 

The  next  event  was  the  third  heat  of  senior  singles 
with  these  starters:  i.  D.  P.  Nowlan,  Albany  R.  C, 
Albany,  N.  Y. ;  2.  S.  Scholes,  Amateur  R.  C,  To- 
ronto, Ont. ;  3.  Martin  F.  Monahan,  Albany  R.  C, 
Albany,  N.  Y. 

It  was  expected  to  be  a  great  race,  and  proved  to 
be  such  as  far  as  it  went,  though  it  was  marred  near 
the  finish  by  a  very  unfortunate  foul.  When  Mona- 
han and  Scholes  were  both  heading  for  the  east 
shore,  and  well  in  toward  it,  their  boats  came  to- 
gether and  remained  locked  despite  all  their  strug- 
gles. Meantime  Nowlan,  while  the  two  faster  men 
were  quarreling,  went  on  and  won  the  heat  in  8  :495. 
The  referee  promptly  disqualified  Scholes,  who  was 
clearly  out  of  his  water,  and  under  regatta  rule  23 
decided  to  allow  Monahan  to  compete  in  the  final 
heat. 

293 


THE    FOURTH    HEAT   OF  JUNIOR    SINGLES 

was  another  very  close  and  pretty  contest.  It  had 
these  young  men  as  starters:  i.  T.  F.  Hill,  Crescent 
B.  C,  Boston,  Mass.;  2.  M.  Shea,  Don  Amateur 
R.  C,  Toronto,  Ont. ;  3.  F.  G.  McDougall,  New  York 
A.  C. ;  4.  L.  S.  De  Zouche,  Laureate  B.  C,  Troy, 
N.  Y. 

The  race  all  the  way  was  between  McDougall  and 
Shea.  The  former  led  off  and  won  the  heat  handily 
by  several  lengths.  De  Zouche  and  Hill  had  a  pretty 
race  for  third  place,  Hill  resigning  in  favor  of  the 
Trojan  opposite  the  anchored  barges.  The  time  was, 
McDougall,  8:49!;   Shea,  9:03;   De  Zouche,  9:13. 

The  last  heat  but  one  of  the  day  was  the  conclud- 
ing trial  heat  of  senior  singles.  These  two  started : 
J.  F.  Corbett.  Farragut  B.  C,  Chicago,  111. ;  J.  J. 
Ryan,  Bayside  R.  C,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Corbett,  the  Chicago  giant,  had  no  difficulty  what- 
ever in  showing  the  Canadian  the  way  over  the  mile 
and  a  half  course.  Corbett's  time  was  8:46^; 
Ryan's  8:57. 

FAIRMOUNT  WINS  THE  FOUR. 
The  four-oared  race,  the  last  of  the  day's  pro- 
gramme, had  these  starters  :  i.  Laureate  B.  C,  Troy, 
N.  Y. :  A.  W.  Harrington,  bow ;  F.  S.  Holly,  2  ;  VV. 
T.  Williamson,  Jr.,  3  ;  E.  B.  Williamson,  stroke.  2. 
Nautilus  R.  C,  Hamilton,  Ont. :  William  Wark,  bow; 
Charles  Furlong,  2  ;  Donald  Irvine,  3  ;  D.  Donohue, 
stroke.      3.   Fairmount  R.  Association,  Philadelphia, 


194 


Pa.;  W.  H.  Brownell,  bow;  N.  Hayes,  2 ;  H.  A. 
Root,  3  ;  J.  H,  Boyer,  stroke.  4.  Argonaut  R.  C, 
Toronto,  Ont. :  R.  McKay,  bow ;  Oliver  Murphy,  2 ; 
A.  G.  Thompson,  3  ;   J.  W.  Hogg,  stroke. 

Fairmount  led  off,  rowing  a  beautiful  stroke,  the 
Trojans  a  close  second,  and  working  in  excellent  form. 
The  Canadians  steered  badly  near  the  finish,  and  the 
Philadelphians  won  by  a  couple  of  lengths  in  8 :  oi|, 
Agronauts  8  :  07I,  Laureates  8 :  22.  Nautilus  not 
timed. 


Fraternal  Emblems. 


IMPOSING   PARADE   BY   SECRET   ORGANIZATIONS. 

The  spirit  of  jubilation  ran  to  the  highest  pitch, 
when  the  secret  organizations  made  their  march 
through  the  city.  The  additional  color  of  evening 
illumination  had  been  given  to  the  occasion. 

The  parade  was  through  home  avenues,  and  dem- 
onstrated that  the  decorations  made  by  our  citizens 
at  their  residences  were  equal  in  unanimity  and  excel- 
lence to  the  superb  displays  of  our  principal  business 
streets.  Antique  buildings  vied  with  modern  in  their 
illumination,  and  Greek  fire  shed  a  halo  over  land- 
marks two  hundred  and  nineteen  years  old,  untouched 
and  standing  intact  with  the  primitive  finish  of  age 
that  we  revert  to  as  sacred.  Lanterns  blazing  with 
decorative  hues  threw  light  across  bronzed  tablets  to 
live  for  centuries  as  the  permanent  establishment  of 
historical  fact. 


295 


THE  FOUR  FLOATS. 
The  parade  was  headed  by  Grand  Marshal  H.  H. 
Russ,  Jr.,  and  his  staff,  followed  by  the  Twenty-first 
regiment  band,  of  Poughkeepsie,  twenty-one  pieces. 
After  this  came  Canton  Nemo,  No.  i,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  in 
command  of  Maj.  Henry  Reineck,  with  forty-five 
men  in  uniform.  There  were  also  many  other  mem- 
bers of  the  order  from  different  lodges  in  the  ranks 
in  citizens'  dress.  The  floats  were  four  in  number, 
and  each  one  possessed  much  beauty  and  artistic 
merit.  They  were  accompanied  by  uniformed  attend- 
ants bearing  hugh  lamps  and  burning  colored  fire, 
making  the  scene,  as  a  whole,  of  the  greatest  brilliancy. 
The  first  float  represented  "  Friendship,"  and  was  an 
illustration  of  the  well-known  story  of  David  and 
Jonathan  a  huge  rock  rises  from  the  float,  and  grouped 
around  this  are  "  Jonathan,"  Mr.  J.  D.  Robertson ; 
"  David,"  Mr.  R.  H.  McDonald,  and  the  latter's  armor 
bearer,  represented  by  William  Skinner.  The  second 
float  represented  "  Brotherly  Love."  Upon  the  sward 
is  stretched  the  Israelite  who  "  fell  among  the  thieves," 
and  leaning  over  him  and  binding  up  his  wounds  is 
the  Samaritan.  The  latter  character  was  taken  by 
Augustus  Bowers,  and  the  Israelite  by  George 
Wentworth.  The  third  float  was  entitled  "  Truth," 
and  represented  the  interior  of  a  temple.  Seated 
upon  a  throne  was  the  high  priest,  Charles  H. 
Gamble,  and  gathered  around  in  their  picturesque 
and  striking  costumes  were  the  priests,  represented 
by  Henry  Goertz,  Charles  Swart,  Fred  Mayers  and 
Emil  Reinkee.  The  banner  bearers  were  Herman 
Ryders,  Edward    Stroebel    Benjamin    Nelligar    and 

296 


Lyman  B.  Harvey.  All  of  these  floats  were  con- 
tributed by  the  Odd  Fellows  of  the  city,  and  were 
constructed  by  John  J.  Carlin  &  Co.,  scenic  artists. 
The  fourth  and  last  float,  which  did  not  wheel  into 
line  until  the  corner  of  Lark  and  Washington  avenue 
was  reached,  represented  the  execution  scene  from 
Damon  and  Pythias,  showing  the  interior  of  the  coun- 
cil chamber.  The  king  was  represented  by  N.  M. 
Wemple,  the  executioner  by  T.  J.  Markay,  Pythias 
by  T.  Guardineer,  and  Damon  by  E.  Guardineer. 
The  two  marshals  in  uniform  were  James  Hotaling 
and  G.  H.  Guardineer.  This  float  was  contributed 
by  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  was  constructed  by 
Prof,  Blair,  of  the  Leland.  The  entire  parade  was, 
perhaps,  the  most  novel  which  has  yet  been  seen  in 
this  city,  and  it  reflects  great  credit  upon  its  origina- 
tors. 


WEDNESDAY,  JULY  21  ST. 
Civic  Day. 

Morning.  —  Parade  of  local  and  visiting  civic 
organizations.  Knights  of  Pythias,  Uniformed  Odd 
Fellows,  Albany  Fire  Department,  Exempt  Firemen, 
Visiting  Firemen,  Singing  Societies,  Political  Clubs, 
etc. 

Afternoon.  —  Second  and  last  day  of  National 
regatta. 

Evening. — Historical  pageant,  with  special  refer- 
ence to  Albany. 


297 


RECEPTION    OF    THE    ENVOYS    FROM    HOLLAND    AND 
THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  LEYDEN  AT  THE  MAYOR'S 
OFFICE. 

Shortly  before  the  great  procession  of  civic  day 
started,  a  most  interesting  ceremony  was  performed 
at  the  mayor's  office  in  the  city  hall.  Dr.  T.  Blom 
Coster,  deputed  to  represent  officially  the  govern- 
ment of  Holland  and  the  city  of  Amsterdam  at  the 
Bi-centennial  celebration,  Chevalier  T.  Antonius  de 
Jonge  and  Mr.  Hermanns  J.  Coster,  jr.,  representing 
the  University  of  Leyden,  arrived  the  previous  after- 
noon by  the  day  boat  and  were  met  by  a  deputation 
of  the  citizens'  reception  committee.  After  dinner 
at  the  Delavan  the  distinguished  visitors  were  driven 
through  the  city  to  the  park,  where  the  concert  was 
in  progress,  and  subsequently  to  the  city  hall,  from 
the  balcony  of  which  they  witnessed  with  the  mayor 
the  procession  of  secret  societies.  Subsequently  they 
were  informally  entertained  at  the  Fort  Orange  club. 
In  the  morning  at  nine  o'clock  about  twenty  mem- 
bers of  the  Holland  society  of  New  York  and  fifteen 
members  of  the  Holland  society  of  Albany,  decked 
with  orange  and  gold  badges,  assembled  at  the  mayor's 
office  to  participate  in  the  formal  reception  of  the 
city's  Dutch  guests.  They  reached  the  city  hall  in 
carriages  accompanied  by  Gen.  Robert  Lenox  Banks, 
Aid.  Hitt  and  other  members  of  the  committee,  and 
were  escorted  into  the  mayor's  room.  Dr.  Coster 
presented  a  distinguished  presence. 


298 


When  the  gentlemen  in  turn  had  been  introduced 
to  the  mayor  by  Gen.  Banks,  Dr.  Coster  stepped 
forward  and  read  the  following  address : 

To    THE   Worshipful   Mayor  and  the    Corporation 
OF  Albany : 

We  the  burgomaster  and  wethouders  of  The  Hague  tender 
our  hearty  greetings  on  the  feast  that  the  city  of  Albany 
celebrates  in  honor  of  the  day  on  which,  two  hundred  years 
ago,  she  by  charter  gained  the  privileges  of  a  city. 

We  rejoice  at  the  continually  increasing  prosperity  which 
your  city  has  experienced  since  that  time  and  wish  it  a  long 
and  bright  future. 

We  greatly  appreciate  the  honor  of  your  patriotic  invita- 
tion to  participate  in  your  festivities  and  most  willing  charge 
our  fellow  citizen,  Dr.  Timon  Henricus  Blom  Coster,  to  offer 
personally  our  congratulations. 

In  your  invitation  you  mention  Albany  was  founded  by 
Dutchmen,  and  at  the  eventful  time  you  celebrate  most  of 
its  inhabitants,  many  of  whom  had  been  born  in  Holland, 
still  adhered  to  the  language  and  tradition  of  the  Fatherland. 

It  fills  us  with  deep  gratitude  that  you  acknowledge  how 
the  character  of  your  ancestors  and  their  principles  may 
have  contributed  to  form  the  foundation  on  which  succeed- 
ing generations  have  built  your  grand  republic,  attributing 
to  them  the  handing  down  to  posterity  its  greatest  blessing — 
independence  and  freedom. 

This  conviction  finds  in  us,  like  you,  emulating  our 
common  forefathers,  hearty  and  warm  sympathy,  and  draws 
closer  the  ties  of  love  and  veneration  which  link  us  to  your 
noble  republic,  whose  greatness  and  prosperity  is  our  most 
cordial  wish. 

Patijn  Burgomaster, 
E.  Evers,  Secretary. 

When  he  had  concluded  he  presented  the  mayor 
with  the  handsomely  illuminated  original  address  on 
parchment,  the  translation  of  which  he  had  just  read. 
He  also  indicated  with  his  left  hand  five  handsome 
volumes  [bound   in   white   vellum   of  the   history  of 

299 


Amsterdam,  and  a  large  case  containing  about  fifty 
large  photographs  of  The  Hague  and  Amsterdam, 
the  mother  city. 

When  he  had  concluded,  Mayor  Thacher  stepped 
forward  and  said : 

Dr.  Coster   and    Gentlemen   of  the    University  of 
Leyden  : 

As  the  chief  magistrate  of  this  ancient  city  I  bid  you  a 
hearty  welcome.  ^Ve  are  not  so  narrowed  by  our  own 
importance  as  to  be  forgetful  of  our  honorable  ancestry,  and 
your  presence  with  us,  clothed  as  you  are  with  official  dignity, 
makes  us  deeply  sensible  of  the  honor  which  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Netherlands  confers  upon  us.  We  thank  you 
for  these  valuable  and  interesting  volumes  relating  to  the 
chief  city  of  your  country,  a  city  which  once  christened 
with  its  own  name  the  chief  city  of  our  own  land.  We 
shall  keep  these  books  as  very  precious  things,  and  their 
possession  and  the  possession  of  these  addresses  shall  keep 
us  in  constant  memory  not  only  of  the  courtesy  and  friendly 
interest  of  the  Netherlands,  Amsterdam  and  the  university 
of  Leyden,  but  of  the  pleasant  gift-bearers  whom  the  present 
occasion  makes  known  to  us. 

Gentlemen,  it  needs  no  token  of  material  form,  no  offer- 
ing of  intrinsic  value,  no  costly  remembrance  to  tell  us  you 
were  thinking  of  our  city  and  its  origin  at  this  hour  when 
we  are  rounding  a  most  important  and  interesting  period  in 
our  municipal  existence.  We  never  think  of  our  own  origin, 
but  we  sing  the  praises  of  the  Netherlands.  We  recognize 
in  the  commercial  activity,  in  the  sturdy  independence  and 
indomitable  will  of  the  mother  country,  those  elements  of 
character  which  in  the  New  Netherlands  wrought  mighty 
works  and  which  have  preserved  for  us  and  incorporated 
into  our  national  life  the  public  and  civic  virtues  we  now 
believe  we  somewhat  possess.  Industry,  you  gave  us  as  an 
inheritance.  That  love  for  fairness  which  demands  and 
imparts  justice,  came  to  us  largely  from  the  Low  Countries. 
Liberty  and  tolerance  ran  in  our  veins,  mixed  with  our 
Dutch  blood.  The  tireless,  dogged  insistence  upon  free- 
dom, right  and  truth  with  which  William  the  Silent,  three 
hundred  years  ago,  worked  out  the  independence  of  the 


300 


Netherlands,  preserved  these  principles  for  two  centuries  as 
mighty  tools  which  in  the  hands  of  Holland  and  Dutch 
decendents  helped  work  out  the  independence  of  America. 

Gentlemen,  in  your  beautiful  city  of  The  Hague  in  that 
many-sided  tower  which  adorns  the  greatest  of  your  churches 
are  hung  thirty-eight  bells.  These  bells  ring  out  over  the 
canals  and  through  the  linden  trees  and  fall  on  the  ears 
of  stranger  and  traveler  within  your  walls,  with  pleasant 
melody  and  friendly  greeting.  The  hght  of  this  very  day 
was  ushered  into  our  city  with  thirty-eight  guns.  These 
guns  were  intended  to  welcome  and  salute  you,  but  they 
had  another  and  higher  significance.  They  represented  the 
thirty-eight  states  which  are  strongly  interwoven  into  our 
American  Union.  It  was  here,  in  this  Dutch  city,  that  the 
Union  was  first  suggested  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  years 
ago.  Your  country  gave  us  many  of  the  tools  with  which 
in  this  new  world  we  have  builded  our  present  municipal  and 
national  structures.  If  we  have  used  these  tools  well,  wisely, 
successfully,  let  us  rejoice  together  and  share  in  the  glory. 

Gentlemen,  we  feel  highly  honored  that  not  only  the  gov- 
ernment of  Holland  and  the  municipality  of  Amsterdam 
should  so  highly  consider  us,  but  that  the  great  University  of 
Leyden,  which  is  a  century  older  than  our  own  city,  and 
which  has  given  to  the  world  men  who  have  thought  out  for 
it  great  thoughts,  and  who  in  science,  philosophy  and  litera- 
ture, have  opened  new  paths  and  smoothed  old  ways,  should 
have  likewise  so  greatly  honored  us.  Again  I  bid  you 
welcome,  and  in  the  name  of  our  city  desire  you  to  convey 
our  thanks  and  our  hearty  appreciation  of  their  courtesy 
and  good  will  to  the  authorities  of  The  Hague,  the  city  of 
Amsterdam  and  the  University  of  Leyden. 

The  envoys  bowed  low  in  acknowledgment  of  the 
mayor's  greeting.  The  mayor  again  shook  hands 
with  his  guests,  who  were  introduced  to  the  American 
Hollanders  present.  After  a  few  moments  of  con- 
versation the  party  proceeded  to  the  square  and 
entered  the  carriages  provided  to  participate  in  the 
procession. 


301 


The  Civic  Day  Parade.    General  Orders. 

Headquarters  First  Division,      ^ 

Civic  Day  Parade.  > 

Albany,  July  20,  1886.  ) 

Orders  No.  2  : 

I.  The  following  are  hereby  appointed  aides  on  the 
division  staff:  Caughnawaga  chief,  Capt.  Charles  H. 
Wolston,  Frederick  C.  Baker,  Albion  Ransom,  Jr., 
Harry  Simmons,  R.  V.  Stevens,  Robert  F.  Macfarlane, 
C.  C.  Mackey,  W.  J.  Hall  and  F.  H.  Case.  They 
will  be  obeyed  and  respected  accordingly. 

n.  Headquarters  for  Wednesday  morning  are 
hereby  established  at  corner  North  Pearl  and  State 
streets,  where  the  staff  will  report,  mounted,  at  8 :  30 
o'clock  sharp,  to  chief  of  staff. 

By  order  H.  B.  Anable,  Marshal. 

G.  James  Greene,  Chief  of  Staff. 

I.  Having  been  appointed  marshal  of  the  eighth 
division  on  civic  day  parade,  July  21,  1886,  I  hereby 
assume  command. 

n.  Captain  Joseph  Fisher  is  hereby  appointed  chief 
of  staff. 

HI.  All  parties  who  have  been  assigned  to  the 
above  division  will,  at  the  earliest  moment,  notify  the 
marshal  or  chief  of  staff,  in  order  that  they  may  be 
assigned  a  place  in  line. 

IV.  The  following  are  hereby  appointed  aides  to 
the  marshal,  and  will  report  to  the  chief  of  staff:  L. 
B.  Combs,  A.  D.  Brink,  E.  Brumaghim,  G.  E.  Latham, 
F.  N.  Sisson,  Sol  Davis  and  Frank  Herrick. 

Frank  J.  Childs,  Marshal. 

Capt.  Joseph  Fisher,  Chief  of  Staff. 

302 


The  Unconditionals. 

Headquarters  Unconditional  Club,  ') 

Cor.  North  Pearl  and  Steuben  Sts.,     > 

Albany,  July,  15,  1886.  ) 

Paragraph  I.  Having  been  elected  marshal  of  the 
Unconditional  Republican  club  for  the  Bi-centennial 
civic  day  parade,  I  hereby  assume  command. 

Paragraph  II.  The  members  of  this  club  are  hereby 
requested  to  assemble  at  the  club  rooms  Wednesday, 
July  21,  at  8 :  30  A.  M.  sharp,  for  parade.  Line  will 
be  formed  at  nine  A.  M. 

Paragraph  III.  Uniform  will  consist  of  dark  clothes, 
black  derby  hat,  cane,  white  necktie  and  white  gloves. 

Paragraph  IV.  The  club  has  been  assigned  an 
important  position  in  line  and  it  is  essential  that  all 
should  report  promptly  at  the  hour  named. 

By  order,  OsCAR   Smith,  Marshal. 

Fire   Department. 

Headquarters  Albany  Fire  Department,  ^ 

Office  of  Chief  Engineer,  > 

Albany,  July  17,  1886.  ) 

The  officers,  hosemen  and  laddermen  of  the  depart- 
ment are  required  to  observe  the  following  instruc- 
tions on  the  occasion  of  the  parade  and  inspection  of 
the  department  Wednesday,  July  21,  1886.  The 
uniform  to  consist  of  black  pants,  red  shirts,  uniform 
hats  and  belts  and  white  gloves.  Every  officer,  hose- 
man  and  ladderman  is  expected  to  parade  ;  absentees 
must  be  reported.  At  9 :  i  5  A.  M.  one  blow  will  be 
given  upon  the  engine-house  gongs  and  bell  strikers 
as  a  signal  to   drivers   to   attach   the   horses   to  the 


303 


apparatus.  At  9 :  30  A.  M,  one  blow  will  be  given 
upon  the  engine-house  gongs  and  bell  strikers,  as  a 
signal  to  companies  to  leave  their  respective  houses. 
Foremen  of  companies  are  particularly  enjoined  to 
have  their  companies  on  the  ground  of  formation 
promptly.  No  portion  of  the  apparatus  will  be  per- 
mitted to  leave  the  line  in  case  of  an  alarm  of  fire, 
except  by  special  orders  to  that  effect.  Foremen  of 
companies  are  hereby  directed  to  report  to  the  chief 
immediately  upon  their  arrival  upon  the  ground  of 
formation.  No  decoration  of  any  description  will  be 
allowed  upon  the  apparatus.  By  order  of  the  com- 
missioners. 

James  McQuade,  Chief  Engineer. 

THE  PARADE. 

At  9 :  30  A.  M.,  the  bell  in  the  city  hall  gave  notice 
that  columns  must  form  immediately.  The  divisions 
were  formed  as  follows : 

First  division — Independent  organizations,  North 
Pearl  street,  right  on  State. 

Second  division — Secret  societies  and  floats,  South 
Pearl  street,  right  on  State. 

Third  division — Political  clubs,  State  street,  right 
on  Pearl. 

Fourth  division — Bobbing  clubs,  James  street, 
right  on  State. 

Fifth    division — Visiting   firemen,  right    on   State. 

Sixth  division — Visiting  firemen,  Green  street,  in 
rear  of  fifth  division. 

Seventh  division — Albany  fire  department.  South 
Broadway,  right  on  State. 


304 


Eighth  division — Trades  and  floats,  North  Broad- 
way, right  on  CHnton  avenue. 

FORMATION  OF  COLUMN. 
The  formation  of  the  hne  was  as  follows : 
Mounted  police ;  skirmishers ;  Major  James  O. 
Woodward,  grand  marshal;  Col.  John  S.  McEwan, 
chief  of  staff;  Maj.  Lewis  Balch,  adjutant  of  staff; 
Col.  Frederick  Andes,  Col.  John  S.  Robbins,  Col. 
Edmund  L,  Gaul,  Col.  Jacob  C.  Cuyler,  Maj.  Chas. 
H.  Stott,  jr.,  Capt.  Samuel  McKeever,  U.  S.  A., 
Capt.  W.  E.  Milbank,  Capt.  M.  L.  Earing,  Capt. 
Albert  Albers,  Lieut.  Robert  H.  Patterson,  U.  S.  A., 
Lieut.  A.  C.  Judson,  EUiott  Danforth,  Edwy  L. 
Taylor,  Jeremiah  Kieley,  Edward  Perry,  George  S. 
Gregory,  Edward  J.  Brennan,  Albert  C.  Goodwin, 
Reuben  H.  Clark,  Emil  Rosche,  John  Kinnary, 
George  C.  Kimball,  Fred  L.  Classen,  Justus  R.  Has- 
well,  Geo.  W.  Stedman,  Capt.  A.  H.  Spierre,  Maj. 
Henry  C.  Littlefield,  Frank  Wright,  John  C.  Conner, 
A.  F.  Brown,  David  J.  Norton,  George  W.  Smith, 
Benj.  Bamer,  Indian  Chieftain  Joseph,  Frank  W. 
Dounds ;  executive  committee,  civic  day,  A.  McD. 
Shoemaker,  chairman ;  the  Holland  society  of  New 
York,  Judge  C.  Van  Voist,  chairman ;  local  com- 
mittee of  Holland  society,  vice-president,  Albert 
Vander  Veer,  chairman  ;   delegates  from  Holland. 

FIRST  DIVISION. 
Marshal    H.   B.  Anable    commanding;    G.    James 
Green,  adjutant,  and  staff,  Capt.  Charles  H.  Wolston, 
Frederick  C.  Baker,  Albion  Ransom,  jr.,  Harry  Sim- 

305 


mons,   R.  V.   Stevens,   Robert  F.   McFarlane,  C.  C. 
Mackey,  W.  J.  Hall,  F.  H.  Case. 

Mayor  Thacher,  ex-Mayor  Banks  and  Dr.  Coster, 
the  official  representative  of  the  Hague,  rode  in  a 
carriage  at  the  head  of  the  first  division. 

Twenty-first  regiment  band  of  Poughkeepsie ; 
Burgesses  corps,  as  escort  to  mayor  and  council 
committee  on  public  celebration,  Galen  R.  Hitt, 
chairman  ;  common  council  of  the  city  ;  city  officials  ; 
Bi-centennial  committee,  who  followed  in  carriages : 
Gen.  Robert  Lenox  Banks,  Aldermen  Hitt,  Norton, 
Fuller,  McCann,  Greagan,  Harris,  Donohue,  Fleming, 
Klaar ;  City  Chamberlain,  Charles  A.  Hills  ;  Common 
Council  clerk,  Martin  Delehanty;  Street  Commis- 
sioner Russ,  Judge  Van  Vorst  of  New  York,  president 
of  the  Holland  society,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ten  Eyck  of 
New  Brunswick,  Dr.  Albert  Vander  Veer,  the  Hon. 
G.  Van  Nostrand  of  Nyack,  Theodore  V.  Van  Heusen, 
James  D.  Wynkoop,  Andrew  Van  Santvoord  of  New 
York,  and  Mr.  Van  Schaick  of  Cobleskill,  City 
Surveyor  Horace  E.  Andrews.  G.  A.  Van  Allen, 
William  M.  Van  Antwerp,  J.  Townsend  Lansing  and 
Matthias  Bissikummer,  president  of  the  German  com- 
mittee ;  Frank  Froelich,  vice-president ;  Emmanuel 
Labishiner,  secretary ;  Wm.  Grandpre,  assistant  sec- 
retary; John  Zimmerman,  treasurer  ;  Louis  Schupp, 
assistant  treasurer;  Peter  Lasch,  Fred.  Stackman, 
Max  Kurth,  John  Haak,  John  Rummel,  F.  Lange, 
Henry  Henzel,  Charles  W.  Mueller,  Andrew  Amend, 
August  Wecka,  Victor  Kennel,  John  Kurtz,  Casper 
Muelick. 

Indians;   Scotch  band.  New  York;    St.  Andrew's 
306 


society  ;  Caledonian  societies  in  Highland  costumes  ; 
visiting  Scotch  societies ;  float,  Boatman's  Relief 
association,  ship  with  sailors ;  float,  ancient  windmill 
and  millers ;  float,  the  first  locomotive,  Delaware  & 
Hudson  Canal  company  ;  band;  Indians,  with  escort; 
German  band  of  Poughkeepsie ;  German  singing 
societies  in  regalia ;  Eintracht  singing  society ;  float, 
"  Mozart ;"  Harmonia  society  ;  float;  Caecelia  singing 
society,  float ;  Liederkranz  singing  society,  float ; 
German  societies,  with  floats ;  French  societies,  with 
floats  ;  Irish  societies,  with  floats  ;  visiting  divisions. 
United  Irishmen  of  America ;  other  independent 
associations. 

SECOND    DIVISION. 

Marshal  H.  H.  Russ,  jr.,  commanding;  F,  W. 
Sarauw,  adjutant,  and  staff",  Howard  B.  Hacket,  Dr. 
R.  J.  Verplank,  James  Hacket,  A.  W.  La  Rose,  J. 
Keenholts,  C.  P.  Roberts ;  Germania  band  of  Pitts- 
field,  Mass. ;  Patriarchs  Militant,  Uniformed  Odd 
Fellows,  Canton  Nemo,  No.  i,  of  Albany;  visiting 
Cantons  from  Troy,  Amsterdam  and  other  places ; 
emblematic  floats,  Friendship,  Love,  Truth ;  band ; 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  Select  Knights, 
Scanton  Legion,  East  Albany,  in  full  regalia,  Capt. 
Philip  Smith,  commanding  ;  visiting  Knights,  Ancient 
Order  of  the  Iron  Hall,  emblematic  float,  Pyramid  of 
States,  the  Order  in  full  regalia ;  band ;  Knights  of 
Pythias,  Albany  Division,  No.  2,  V.  R.  K.  of  P.,  in 
the  full  regalia  of  the  Order ;  emblematic  float,  local 
lodges  as  escort  to  float,  visiting  uniformed  divisions, 
visiting  lodges. 


307 


THIRD   DIVISION. 

Marshal  Edward  D.  Ronan,  commanding;  W.  A. 
Wallace,  adjutant,  and  staff,  J,  L.  Ten  Eyck,  John 
Burning,  Fred.  E.  Wadhams,  Dr.  W.  J.  Nellis,  Lewis 
W.  Pratt ;  band  ;  Unconditional  club  ;  Toohey  asso- 
ciation ;  athletes  in  carriages  ;  Sons  of  Veterans  ;  Lan- 
singburgh  post,  C.  H.  Nason  commander ;  A.  B.  Uline 
association ;  Catholic  Benevolent  legion ;  Ancient 
Order  of  Hibernians ;  local  and  visiting  divisions ; 
Burdette-Coutts  association ;  social  and  other  organi- 
zations ;   floats. 

FOURTH    DIVISION. 

Marshal  Fred  Ewing  commanding;  Charles  H, 
Clapper  adjutant,  and  staff,  Edward  Ewing,  A.  B. 
Kiernan,  J.  H.  Mulligan  and  others ;  City  band  of 
Plattsburgh ;  bobbing  associations  in  uniform,  with 
decorated  bobs ;  Brooklyn  Bridge  club ;  Dasha- 
way  club,  '84 ;  May  Blossom  club ;  Jolly  Eight 
club ;  O'Donovan  Rossa  club ;  Monitor,  Deerfoot, 
Avalanche,  Minnie  S.,  Laura  C.  clubs.  Visiting  snow 
shoe  clubs;  visiting  bobbing  clubs  in  uniform  with 
decorated  bobs. 

FIFTH    DIVISION. 

Visiting  firemen.  Assistant  Engineer  J.  C.  Griffin 
commanding ;  Maschke's  band,  of  Troy ;  Arba  Read 
steamer  company,  of  Troy  ;  Eddy  steamer  company, 
of  Troy ;  Volunteer  steamer  company,  of  Troy ; 
Wilber  hose  company,  of  Oneonta,  N.  Y.,  with  hose 
carriage ;  steamer  company,  Oneonta,  N.  Y. ;  Sand- 
lake  band :  J.  N.  Ring  steamer  company,  of  Green- 
bush,  steamer  and  hose  carriage ;   band  of  Rutland ; 

308 


Reynolds  hose  drill  company,  of  Rutland,  Vt. ;  drum 
corps  ;  Van  Vranken  hose  company,  of  Schenectady, 
with  hose  carriage ;  McCreary  hose  drill  company, 
of  Cohoes,  N.  Y. 

SIXTH  DIVISION. 
Visiting  firemen.  Assistant  Engineer  George  E. 
Mink  commanding ;  band  of  New  York ;  Mazeppa 
hose  company,  of  New  York,  with  ancient  hose 
carriage ;  Patrick  Gibney,  foreman  of  old  engine 
No.  25  ;  Isaac  Bush,  assistant  foreman  of  old  hose 
No.  13  ;  Brooklyn  volunteer  firemen,  with  ancient 
cart ;  Mechanics'  hook  and  ladder  company,  Glovers- 
ville,  N.  Y.,  with  truck;  Glasshouse  band;  C.  A. 
Bailly  hook  and  ladder  company  No.  i,  Bath- 
on-Hudson,  T.  A.  Carpenter,  foreman,  with  truck ; 
drum  corps ;  Niagara  engine  company,  of  Schoharie, 
with  carriage;  steamer  company  No.  i,  of  Hudson; 
hose  company  of  Whitehall. 

SEVENTH  DIVISION. 
Board  of  fire  commissioners  of  the  city  of  Albany 
in  carriages ;  clerk  of  department  and  superintendent 
of  fire  alarm  telegraph.  First  subdivision :  Tenth 
Regiment  band ;  Chief  of  Department  McQuade 
and  assistants;  steamer  company  No.  i,  S.  V.  B. 
Swann,  foreman;  steamer  company  No.  2,  George 
S.  Tice,  foreman;  truck  company  No.  i,  B.  M. 
Fredendal,  foreman;  steamer  company  No.  3,  John 
J.  Hughes,  foreman ;  float  containing  an  old  engine 
of  Philadelphia,  1748;  steamer  No.  i  and  hose 
carriage ;   steamer  No.  2    and    hose    carriage ;    truck 

309 


No.  I  ;  steamer  No.  3  and  hose  carriage ;  reserve 
steamer  and  hose  carriage.  Second  subdivision : 
Steamer  company  No.  4,  Charles  E.  Marshall,  fore- 
man;  steamer  company  No.  5,  E.  J.  Keating,  fore- 
man ;  steamer  company  No.  6,  John  A.  Burns,  fore- 
man ;  steamer  company  No.  7,  M.  C.  Clark,  foreman  ; 
steamer  company  No.  8,  W.  J.  Smith,  foreman ; 
steamer  No.  4  and  hose  carriage ;  steamer  No.  5  and 
hose  carriage ;  truck  No.  2  ;  steamer  No.  6  and  hose 
carriage ;  steamer  No.  7  and  hose  carriage ;  steamer 
No.  8  and  hose  carriage;   the  "  Geyser"  water  tower. 

EIGHTH    DIVISION. 

Tradesmen  with  their  wagons  and  floats.  Marshal 
Frank  J.  Childs  commanding ;  Captain  Joseph  Fisher, 
adjutant,  and  staff,  L.  B.  Comb,  A.  D.  Brink,  Eugene 
Brumaghim,  G.  E.  Latham,  F.  N.  Sisson,  Sol.  Davis 
and  Frank  Herrick. 

CLOSING  THE  REGATTA. 
The  rain  threatened  for  a  time  about  noon,  to 
interfere  with  the  events  of  the  day,  but  at  about 
I  :  30  o'clock  the  clouds  broke  away  and  the  sun 
came  out.  Governor  Hill  attended,  accompanied  by 
several  friends. 

THE  DOUBLE  SCULLS. 
The  first  event  on  the  card  was  for  double  sculls, 
these  crews  being  entered  with  positions  in  the  order 
named:  i.  C.  Hopkins,  bow,  H.  A.  Viets,  stroke. 
Laureates  of  Troy;  2.  Thomas  H.  and  M.  F.  Mona- 
han,  Albany  rowing  club;    3.  J.  F.   Gumming,  D.  J. 

310 


Murphy,  Crescents  of  Boston;  4.  John  F.  Korf,  W. 
Weinaud,  Delawares  of  Chicago. 

All  four  got  away  to  an  even  start,  the  Monahans 
cutting  out  the  pace  and  taking  the  lead,  with  the 
Chicago  men  second.  Laureates  third  and  Crescents 
last.  This  order  was  maintained  for  a  mile,  when  the 
Monahans  and  Chicago  men  took  the  race  to  them- 
selves and  fought  it  out  toward  the  east  shore,  the 
other  doubles  hugging  the  west  shore.  Entering  on 
the  last  half  the  Delawares  passed  to  the  front,  and, 
notwithstanding  the  Monahans  made  a  gallant  effort, 
won  in  9:  i8j,  the  Monahans  being  second  in  9:  19. 

The  second  event  was  the  first  trial  heat  of  pair- 
oars.  The  starters  and  positions  were :  I.E.  C. 
Stewart,  bow,  W.  W.  Smith,  stern,  Atlantas  of  New 
York;  2.  George  D.  Phillips,  M.  T.  Hard,  New  York 
Athletics;  3.  F.  Freeman,  J.  Weldon,  Eurekas, 
Newark,  N.  J. 

The  Eurekas  took  the  lead  from  the  word  "  go," 
and  pulling  out  a  length  to  the  goal  maintained  their 
lead  entirely  throughout,  winning  by  three  open 
lengths  in  10:  30.  The  Atlantas  quit  at  the  end  of 
the  first  quarter. 

The  second  heat  of  pair-oars  brought  out  these 
scullers:  i.  J.  H.  Clegg  and  F.  B.  Standish  of  the 
Excelsiors,  Detroit;  2.  C.  Lee  Andrews  and  J.  C. 
Livingston  of  the  New  York  Athletic  club  ;  3.  Robert 
McCann  and  William  S.  Mosely  of  the  Mutuals  of 
Albany. 

The  New  York  pair  took  the  lead,  the  Mutuals  pair 
second  and  the  Excelsiors  third.  These  positions  were 
unchanged  to  the  first  quarter,  when  the  Mutuals  drop- 

311 


ped  to  the  rear  and  continued  there  to  the  last  quarter, 
when  the  Excelsiors  took  the  lead.  At  this  point 
the  New  Yorks  pulled  out  of  their  course  toward  the 
west  shore,  allowing  the  Mutuals  to  take  second  place. 
The  Excelsiors,  continuing  on,  won  the  race  by  six 
lengths  in  9:  57,  the  Mutuals  time  being  10:  i8|. 
The  cause  of  the  New  Yorks  pulling  out  of  the  race, 
became  evident  when  the  shell  neared  the  west  shore, 
and  C.  Lee  Andrews,  the  bow  oar,  fainted.  He  was 
assisted  out  and  carried  into  the  pavilion,  where  medi- 
cal aid  was  summoned. 

Next  was  the  final  heat  of  junior  singles  in  which 
the  winners  of  the  four  trial  heats  on  Tuesday  com- 
peted. They  were:  i.  H.  Rowland  of  the  Cornell 
University  navy;  2.  John  F.  Daily  of  the  Bradfords, 
Boston ;  3.  F.  G.  McDougall,  of  the  New  York  Ath- 
letics ;   4.  M.  T.  Quigley  of  the  Institutes,  Newark. 

McDougall  got  away  with  a  slight  advantage  at  the 
start,  but  was  soon  overhauled  by  Rowland,  the 
others  being  close  up.  After  an  exciting  finish 
Rowland  won  in  10 :  08,  Quigley's  time  being  10  :  09^ 
and  McDougall's  10:  25.  There  were  but  two  com- 
petitors in  the  junior  four-oared.  J.  E.  Knox,  Rarry 
Pierce,  F.  R.  Thompson  and  Joseph  Wright  of  the 
Torontos  and  Homer  L.  Brayton,  John  J.  Travis, 
Dominick  Fitzpatrick,  jr.,  and  John  J.  Moran  of  the 
Albany  rowing  club.  The  Canadians  won  easily  in 
8 :  30,  the  Albany's  time  being  8:38. 

THE   BATTLE   OF  THE   SENIORS. 
The  sixth  event  of  the  day,  the  final  heat  of  senior 
singles,  was  the  most  interesting  and  exciting  of  the 

312 


day.  It  brought  together  Mulcahy,  Monahan  and 
Nowlan  of  Albany,  J.  F.  Corbett  of  the  Farraguts  of 
Chicago  and  J.  J.  Donohue  of  the  Nautilus  of  Hamil- 
ton, Ontario.  Corbett  had  the  inside  position,  with 
the  others  in  this  order:  Nowlan,  Mulcahy,  M.  F. 
Monahan  and  Donohue.  Mulcahy  was  quickest  in 
getting  away,  with  Nowlan  second,  Donohue  third, 
Corbett  fourth  and  Monahan  last.  At  the  mile 
Donohue  still  led  with  Corbett  second,  when  Mona- 
han put  forth  his  reserve  and  came  down  the  last  half 
mile  like  a  race  horse,  passing  Donohue  and  Corbett 
with  ease,  and  winning  by  a  half  dozen  lengths  in 
9:33,  Corbett  second  in  9:47,  Mulcahy  third  in 
10:08,  Donohue  fourth  in  10:49  ^"^  Nowlan  last  in 
11:142.  This  victory  made  Monahan  the  senior 
champion  of  American  amateurs. 

THE  FINAL  EVENT. 
In  the  first  heat  of  pairs  the  Eurekas  of  Newark 
won  easily  from  the  Excelsiors  of  Detroit  in  9:  335, 
the  latter's  time  being  9:56.  The  Fairmounts  of 
Philadelphia,  Columbias  of  Washington  and  Concords 
of  Boston  competed  in  the  eight-oared  race.  The 
Fairmounts  who  had  the  inside  course  led  from  start 
to  finish,  with  the  Concords  second,  and  won  in  8  :  49, 
the  Concord's  time  being  9:  03 1,  and  the  Columbias 
9 :  2O2.  The  prizes  were  presented  to  the  successful 
oarsmen  in  the  common  council  chamber  in  the  eve- 
ning, the  presentation  address  being  made  by  Hon. 
Francis  H.  Woods. 


313 


The  Pageant. 

Headquarters  of  the  Historical  Pageant, 

July  21,  1886. 
General  Orders : 

I.  The  following  are  announced  as  additional  aides 
to  the  chief  marshal :  Captain  Edgar  V.  Denison 
and  Lieutenants  James  M.  Ruso,  L.  H.  Washburn 
and  Russell  Lyman.  They  will  be  obeyed  and  re- 
spected accordingly. 

n.  All  police  arrangements  will  receive  the  per- 
sonal attention  of  Chief  of  Police  Willard  and  the 
captains  of  the  several  precincts. 

HL  In  accordance  with  a  proclamation  issued  by 
His  Honor  Mayor  John  B.  Thacher,  all  fireworks  or 
explosives  of  any  character  along  the  line  of  march 
are  strictly  prohibited  and  offenders  will  be  dealt  with 
according  to  the  letter  of  the  law. 

IV.  The  Tenth  regiment  band  and  the  Albany  city 
band,  consolidated,  are  hereby  assigned  to  the  right 
of  the  line  and  the  Twenty-first  regiment  band  to  the 
right  of  the  third  division.  They  will  report  to  the 
chief  of  staff  at  eight  o'clock  sharp  at  the  pageant 
building. 

V.  The  staff  will  report,  mounted,  at  7 :  45  P.  M. 
sharp,  at  the  northeast  entrance  of  Washington  park, 
and  proceed  thence  to  the  pageant  building.  Uni- 
form, white  helmet  with  spike,  blue  blouse  and  white 
gloves. 

VI.  All  figurantes  must  be  costumed  and  ready  to 
report  for  duty  at  their  several  headquarters  at  7 :  30 
P.  M. 

VII.  The  parade  will  start  at  8  :  30  P.  M.  sharp,  over 


314 


the  following  route :  Washington  avenue  to  Lark, 
Lark  to  State,  State  to  Eagle,  Eagle  to  Washington 
avenue  (where  it  will  be  reviewed  at  the  reviewing 
stand  by  His  Excellency  Governor  David  B.  Hill 
and  staff,  and  His  Honor,  Mayor  John  B.  Thacher), 
Washington  avenue  to  Knox,  Knox  to  State,  State  to 
Willett,  Willett  to  Hudson  avenue,  Hudson  avenue  to 
Pearl,  Pearl  to  Clinton  avenue,  Clinton  avenue  to 
Lark,  where  it  will  be  reviewed  by  the  grand  marshal 
and  staff  and  dismissed. 

VIIL  The  formation  of  the  column  will  be  as  fol- 
lows : 

Platoon  of  Police,  Tenth  regiment  and  Albany  City 
bands  consolidated ;   Grand  Marshal  and  staff. 

FIRST  DIVISION. 
Major  H.  L.  Washburn,  commanding,  and  aides ; 
Float  No.  I,  Emblem;  Float  No.  2,  Discovery;  Float 
No.    3,   The    Northmen;    Float    No.  4,    Landing    of 
Columbus. 

SECOND  DIVISION. 
Capt.  Wm.  E.  Milbank,  commanding,  and  aides ; 
Float  No.  5,  Fort  Orange;   Float  No.  6,  First  Land 
Purchasers  ;   Float  No.  7,  Dutch  Legends  ;   Float  No. 
8,  The  King's  Charter. 

THIRD  DIVISION. 
Twenty-first  Regiment  band  ;  Capt.  Harry  C.  Cush- 
man,  commanding,  and  aides ;  Float  No.  9,  The 
Dongan  Charter;  Float  No.  10,  A  Home  Scene; 
Float  ).  II,  Schenectady  Massacre ;  Float  No.  12, 
Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 

315 


FOURTH  DIVISION. 

Capt.  Wm.  M.  Whitney,  jr.,  commanding,  and 
aides;  Float  No.  13,  Attack  on  Schuyler  Mansion; 
Float  No.  14,  Wedding  Scene,  Van  Rensselaer  Schuy- 
ler ;  Float  No.  15,  Erie  Canal  completed;  Float  No. 
16,  Past,  Present,  Future. 

IX.  Commandants  of  Divisions  will  see  that  the 
following  distances  are  maintained  :  Between  divis- 
ions one  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet  and  between 
floats  ninety  feet. 

X.  Commandant  of  police  is  especially  charged 
with  seeing  that  no  advertising  or  other  decorated 
wagon  is  permitted  within  one  block  of  the  last  float. 

By  command  of 

Lieut.  James  H.  Manning,  Grand  Marshal. 
Capt.  Henry  B.  Diamond,  Chief  of  Staff". 

In  the  gathering  twilight  the  army  of  sightseers 
began  to  mass  its  squadrons  in  front  of  the  high  stock- 
ade enclosing  Col.  De  Leon's  factory  and  thousands 
poured  in  from  all  quarters  until  one  solid  mass  filled 
Washington  avenue  and  Lark  street  at  all  points 
commanding  a  view  of  the  structure.  Within  the 
stockade  all  was  darkness  and  silence,  while  the 
garrison  of  workmen  made  final  preparations  for 
moving.  As  soon  as  the  preliminaries  were  com- 
pleted a  breach  was  made  in  the  high  wooden  wall 
and  the  advance  guard  of  spectators  gazed  upon  a 
chaos  of  shapeless  masses  dimly  outlined  within  the 
dark  enclosure.  This  first  movement  stimulated  the 
excitement  in  the  rear  portions  of  the  mass,  which 
attempted  to  force  its  way  to  the  scene  of  action  and 

316 


taxed  the  muscles  and  patience  of  the  little  band  of 
picked  officers  to  hold  it  in  check. 

ARRANGING    THE    PAGEANT. 

Once  started,  the  gorgeous  fabrics  emerged  from 
their  birthplace  in  a  steady  stream  until  all  were  in 
position,  the  first  at  the  corner  of  State  and  Lark 
streets  and  the  last  in  front  of  the  stockade.  Directly 
the  floats  had  taken  positions  the  work  of  spacing 
and  illuminating  the  gorgeous  spectacle  began.  Mar- 
shal Manning,  through  the  agency  of  Chief  of  Staff 
Henry  B.  Diamond,  distributed  his  aides  along  the 
line  and  enlarged  it  until  the  prescribed  ninety  feet 
intervened  between  each  float.  The  marshal  wore  a 
helmet  with  a  flowing  plume,  and  the  staff  the  Na- 
tional guard  regulation  helmet  and  blouses.  The 
assistant  marshals  were : 

Capt.  H.  L.  Washburn,  Dr.  W.  E.  Milbank,  Capt. 
Harry  C.  Cushman,  Wm.  M.  Whitney,  Jr.,  and  the 
aides:  Eugene  Brumaghim,  Lawrence  J.  Prince,  G. 
Edward  Graham,  Dr.  Maurice  J.  Lewi,  Fred  C.  Ham, 
J.  Howard  Browne,  Robert  G.  Scherer,  William  H. 
McNaughton,  Peter  A.  Stephens,  Fred  L.  Mix,  Finley 
S.  Hayes,  James  M.  Ruso,  T.  C.  DeLeon,  Russell 
Lyman,  L.  H.  Washburn,  Charles  R.  Carroll,  Capt. 
Edgar  V.  Denison,  J.  W.  Cox,  jr.,  Buel  C.  Andrews, 
Howard  Paddock,  Dr.  Wm.  Hailes,  Fred  W.  Wad- 
hams,  Walter  D.  Frothingham,  Edward  R.  Perry. 

THE     START. 
After  half  an  hour's  steady  work  the  pageant  was 
ready  to  move.     Every  torch-bearer  was  in  position 


317 


and  every  one  of  the  illuminators,  with  haversack  well 
filled  with  red  fire,  was  at  his  post.  The  figurantes 
were  all  picturesquely  grouped  and  the  order  for 
moving  was  passed.  As  the  line  moved  down  State 
street  the  spectacle  presented  was  singularly  beauti- 
ful. To  the  spectators  standing  in  the  middle  of  the 
street  directly  in  the  line  of  march  the  approaching 
column  appeared  shrouded  in  a  crimson  halo.  The 
handsomely-uniformed  staff  upon  their  high-stepping 
horses  appeared  in  strong  relief  upon  a  blood-red 
background,  while  looming  up  amid  the  volumes  of 
radiant  smoke  the  floats  appeared  like  visions  from 
fairyland.  The  smoke  from  the  red  fire,  fading  to  a 
faint  pink  as  it  rose,  capped  the  most  splendid  spec- 
tacle ever  seen  in  the  Northern  States. 

As  the  great  pageant  approached  and  passed  in 
review  it  presented  these  pictures : 

The  Emblem  :  The  first  float  was  indeed  introduc- 
tory. The  idea  of  city  government  was  symbolized 
by  the  representation  of  Albany's  civic  shield.  From 
a  base  showing  the  national  colors,  rises  on  each  side 
a  trophy  representing  the  national  shield,  surmounted 
by  every  flag  that  has  found  a  home  in  Albany.  In 
front  and  in  rear  are  shields  bearing  the  arms  of  the 
State  of  New  York.  The  familiar  farmer  and  the  In- 
dian appear  in  stately  posture  with  faces  looking  in 
opposite  directions,  while  over  the  civic  shield  floats 
a  sloop.  This  Indian  is  sitting  upon  a  huge  rock, 
bow  in  hand.  The  farmer  has  in  his  hand  a  sickle. 
The  shield  is  gold  embossed,  and  from  its  upper 
background  of  silver  appear  the  busy  beaver  and  his 
tree.     The  golden  wheat  sheaves  loomed  up  beauti- 

318 


fully  in  their  rich  green  background,  and  the  entire 
tableaux  was  a  fitting  and  successful  introduction. 

Spirit  of  Discovery  :  This  second  float  was  an 
inspiration ;  a  glittering  dream.  From  the  sea,  im- 
mense and  boundless  upon  a  gigantic  wave,  lightly 
floats  a  broad  bejeweled  shell :  and  standing  central 
in  this  is  a  female  representing  the  genius  of  discov- 
ery, her  brilliant  eyes  gazing  intently  into  space,  and 
her  erect  form  betokening  that  determination  which 
sees  no  impossibilities.  In  her  right  hand  is  a  sextant, 
and  about  her  dash  silvery  foam  and  golden  shafts  of 
light.  Her  glittering  diadem  typifies  success,  and 
beside  her  are  two  waiting  sisters,  beautiful  attend- 
ants. Dolphins  sport  before  the  shallop,  and  the 
floating  debris  indicates  land  to  leeward. 

The  Northmen  :  The  element  of  time  now  arrives 
and  the  hardy  Northmen  of  nearly  nine  centuries  ago 
appear.  Their  war  vessel  is  massive,  the  mast  clumsy, 
the  waters  icy,  and  the  sea  dreary.  Sword  in  hand, 
at  the  bow  stands  Lief,  son  of  King  Erie,  a  picture  of 
stern  purpose  and  physical  power,  gray  bearded, 
peering  into  the  dim  distance.  Heavy,  sinewy  men 
row  hard,  as  did  their  fellows  who  came  to  Newport 
and  left  their  mural  monuments.  The  rowers  are 
picturesquely  clad  in  skins  trimmed  with  gold,  and 
their  arms  remind  one  of  Roman  conquest.  Bare- 
armed,  brown-visaged  and  with  flowing  locks,  they 
are  a  hardy  and  strangely  interesting  crew. 

Landing  of  Columbus  :  The  graceful  foliage  of 
palm  trees,  green  and  golden,  illumined  in  the  lurid 

319 


light,  catches  the  eye.  Behind  them  stealthy,  inquisi- 
tive, half-fearful  Indians  lurk  and  peer  to  watch  the 
group  in  front.  Beside  them  a  tropical,  long-necked 
flamingo  and  immense  gray  crane  set  off  the  adorn- 
ings.  But  in  front  the  interest  centres  upon  the 
sea-beach,  where  rest  two  sailors,  while  on  the  land 
he  has  just  claimed,  stands  Columbus,  in  full  court 
dress,  bare-headed,  sword  in  hand,  and  staff  of  flag 
planted,  while  near  by  a  priest  rises  to  bless  the  cross. 
The  representation  is  gorgeous,  delights  the  eye  and 
reminds  one  of  the  historic  truth  in  elaborate  detail. 

Fort  Orange  in  1624:  The  massive  gates  of  the 
fort  are  open  and  towering  high  in  air ;  the  loopholes 
show  where  muskets  do  deadly  defensive  service ; 
Dutchmen  with  blouse  and  breeches  stand  in  front, 
while  one  of  their  number  barters  for  furs  with  an 
Indian.  The  lace-trimmed  collars  and  cuffs  of  the 
Dutchmen  are  a  striking  contrast  to  the  feathers  and 
blanket  of  the  Indian  chief.  The  fort  has  a  massive 
appearance,  and  vines  climb  about  the  base  of  the 
rough  walls.  A  birch  bark  canoe  rests  upon  the  bank 
and  in  it  an  Indian  takes  his  ease  watching  the  scene. 

The  first  Land  Purchases  :  This  represents  a 
winter  scene  in  1 630.  Bales  of  merchandise  are  placed 
in  front  of  a  peaked  skin  tent,  while  the  aspect  of  winter 
touches  every  feature  of  the  scene.  Smoke  from  the 
wigwam,  a  squaw  before  the  fire,  icicles  from  the  trees, 
the  chief  blanketed  and  feather-crowned,  all  speak  of 
cold  weather.  Van  Curler,  the  first  patroon,  two 
Dutchmen  and  another  Indian,  armed,  complete  the 
scene.     The  illuminated  effect  is  magnificent. 


320 


Dutch  Legends  :  This  unique  float  shows  a  vivid 
scene  in  the  Catskills.  Irving's  legend  of  the  bowl- 
ing scene  is  grimly  represented  with  the  Demon  of 
the  mountain  high  perched.  In  the  foreground  grim 
mariners  and  the  white-bearded  chief  are  engaged  in 
the  game,  while  ever  and  anon  the  thunder  rolls  and 
lightning  flashes.  The  bowls  are  rolled  toward  a  dark 
corner,  from  whose  awful  depths  the  agitated  waves 
give  back  a  sound  "  hollow  and  dismal  as  the  sullen 
roar  of  the  volcano's  depths." 

The  King's  Charter  :  This  is  a  high  court  scene 
occuring  in  the  palace  of  Charles  II.  From  the  rear 
a  gorgeous  canopy  covers  the  throne  and  steps  on 
either  side,  Charles  II,  with  plumed  hat,  seated  on  the 
throne.  British  lions,  life  size  and  gilded,  guard  the 
way,  waving  tapestry  and  glittering  gold  and  crimson 
foil  give  warmth  against  the  cold  marble  and  onyx 
pedestals  from  which  rise  golden  candlesticks  with 
rainbow-tipped  pendants.  Standing  guard  are  royal 
soldiers  with  battle  axes,  while  the  central  figure  is 
James,  Duke  of  York  and  Albany,  in  woven  steel 
armor.  His  head  is  bared,  his  sword  is  two-handed, 
and  behind  him  his  squire  bears  his  helmet.  The 
bishop  of  York,  standing  near,  sanctions  the  grant. 
Pages  in  court  costume  are  moving  about. 

The  Dongan  Charter  :  This  float  did  not  aff"ord 
the  designers  opportunity  for  much  display  if  they 
were  to  represent  truthfully  the  history  of  the  occa- 
sion. The  British  headquarters  are  plain  in  contrast 
with  the  preceding  gorgeous  scene.  The  old  Dutch 
unused  fireplace  forms  a  background.     The  British 


321 


shield  is  seen.  By  the  fireplace  stands  Livingston. 
Governor  Dongan  stands  by  the  centre  table  dressed 
as  an  English  cavalier,  and  Peter  Schuyler  receives 
from  him  the  charter  ;  Schuyler  is  in  uniform  as  col- 
onel. Two  Dutch  settlers  are  complacently  viewing 
the  scene,  little  mindful  of  the  nineteenth  century 
aspects  to  be  developed. 

The  Home  Scene  :  This  is  located  in  old  Albany 
in  1686.  The  float  is  quaint  in  design.  The  rail 
fence  of  the  door-yard,  the  grass  plot,  the  cobble 
pave,  the  Indian  on  a  stump  talking  with  a  Dutch 
settler,  the  quaint  house  with  peaked  gable  and 
weathercock,  the  porch  with  housewife  and  husband, 
the  foliage  of  the  trees,  the  on-looking  dog,  all  lend 
a  vivid  reality  to  the  scene. 

The  Massacre  at  Schenectady  :  The  terror  of 
this  scene  of  1690  is  sufficient  to  paralyze  the  small  boy 
and  frighten  timid  maidens.  In  midwinter  a  hideous 
warrior  binds  an  awakening  settler  arising  from  his 
bed,  a  father  lies  killed  on  his  threshold,  a  mother 
and  babe  are  at  the  mercy  of  a  blood-thirsty  Indian, 
and  crowning  the  work  of  destruction  flames  are  seen 
bursting  from  the  windows  and  cabin  in  lurid  mag- 
nificence as  the  spectacle  passes  by. 

Surrender  of  Burgoyne:  The  first  thing  seen 
upon  this  float  is  cannon.  Then  Continental  soldiers 
are  noticed,  ensigns  and  color  guards  are  seen.  The 
detail  of  accoutrement  and  costume  are  faithfully 
observed.  The  officer's  horse  upon  the  float  was  a 
much  admired  adjunct. 

322 


The  Attack  on  the  Schuyler  Mansion  :  This 
scene  was  powerfully  impressive.  The  form  of  Mar- 
garet Schuyler  half  way  up  the  stairway  escaping  with 
the  sleeping  babe  is  a  striking  picture.  Burly  yet  foiled 
Indians  are  seen  dodging  about  the  dark  hallway  and 
one  has  thrown  his  tomahawk  at  the  escaping  woman, 
which,  glancing  from  its  mark  has  landed,  stuck  in 
the  handrail  at  her  side.  The  courage  and  endurance 
of  American  women  are  here  nobly  set  forth  In  con- 
trast to  the  despicable  methods  of  their  British 
opponents  and  red-faced  allies. 

The  Wedding  Scene  of  1783  :  This  is  a  fine  pen- 
dant to  the  preceding  float  and  shows  a  garden  party 
at  the  Schuyler  mansion,  and  presents  varying  and 
notable  features.  The  last  patroon  stands  with  his 
bride,  the  Margaret  of  the  preceding  float.  Near  by 
are  Alexander  Hamilton  and  wife.  Not  far  away  is 
Gen.  Philip  Schuyler,  in  full  dress  ;  but  probably  the 
most  interesting  feature  is  the  carved  fountain  whose 
wonderful  waters  are  constantly  playing  in  rainbow 
colors. 

The  Erie  Canal  :  This  float  represents  a  canal  lock 
with  the  boat  Seneca  Chief  just  coming  down  stream 
drawn  by  a  magnificent  bay.  Upon  the  bow  stand 
Governor  Clinton,  Governor  Yates  and  others.  Over 
the  rainbow,  prophetic  of  promise,  which  spanned 
the  water,  sat  the  genius  of  Commerce  bearing  a 
golden  urn.  The  whole  scene  was  a  fitting  commem- 
oration of  the  opening  of  the  canal  in  1825. 

Past,  Present,  Future  :  The  last  float  was  a  bank 
of  clouds,  soft  and  radiant.     A  dazzling  sun  revolves 

323 


with  glittering  rays  and  flashing  speed,  and  the  sea 
beneath  catches  the  reflection,  and  from  crested  bil- 
low to  foam-capped  wavelet  it  reflects  the  moving 
and  evanescent  glory  of  the  shimmering  scene.  The 
river  banks  at  sunset  are  seen,  upon  the  river  the 
steamboat  palace  of  to-day  rides  in  resplendent 
beauty,  and  upon  shore  an  engine  and  train  of  cars 
arrive.  The  Clermont  paddles  in  the  dim  distance. 
In  the  cloudy  dimness  rests  the  graybeard  Time  and 
his  scythe.  And  high  above  is  youthful  Albany 
symbolized  in  youth,  strength  and  vigor. 

THE  MYSTERY  OF  MOMUS. 
At  midnight  a  ghostly  procession  emerged  from 
beneath  the  Columbia  street  bridge,  bearing  a  sombre 
coflin  in  their  midst,  and  a  banner  with  the  inscription 
"  Mystic  Order  of  Momus,"  surmounted  by  a  skull  and 
cross-bones.  The  leader  of  the  procession  wore  white 
robes  and  a  black  mask  and  had  a  deep  sepulchral 
voice.  The  others  wore  black  robes  and  masks 
The  weird  column  moved  down  Broadway,  up  State, 
over  Capitol  place,  and  down  Washington  avenue  to 
the  roped  inclosure,  where,  in  the  glare  of  the  electric 
lights  and  in  full  view  of  the  assembled  thousands, 
the  mystic  services  of  the  order  were  performed.  An 
invocation  to  the  elements  was  first  in  order,  as  the 
ghostly  crowd  circled  about  the  coffin. 

THE   HIGH    priest's    ADDRESS. 

Then  the  most  wonderful  high  priest  of  the  Mystic 

Order  of  Momus  (H.  C.  Staats)  delivered  this  address  : 

Brethren  of  the  Order:  We  are  now  assembled 
about  the  inanimate  form  of  the  departed.  Before  us  lies 
the  record  of  the  past  two  hundred  years  of  our  native  city. 

324 


It  is  customary,  upon  an  occasion  of  this  nature,  to  eulogize 
the  character  of  the  deceased,  to  pass  hghtly  over  his  many 
errors,  and  to  dwell  at  length  upon  his  virtues.  But  our  day 
is  of  too  high  and  solemn  a  character  to  permit  us  to  do 
aught,  save  proceed  with  the  strictest  regard  to  truth  and 
justice.  Two  hundred  years  ago  to-day,  the  morning  sun- 
light, as  it  flashed  upon  the  old  Dutch  roofs  and  pavements, 
and  was  again  reflected  back  into  the  soft  summer  sky, 
carried  with  it  the  news  that  Albany  officially  assumed  the 
rank  to  which  her  wealth,  populace  and  situation  entitled 
her.  But  few  of  the  old  roofs  remain  to  greet  this  anniver- 
sary, although  many  of  the  pavements  are  still  here.  These, 
added  to  the  number  of  hills  which  ornament  our  beloved 
city,  combine  to  furnish  a  greater  amount  of  exercise  for 
the  distance  traveled,  than  any  modern  city  in  the  Union. 
This  is  a  great  point,  and  all  our  old  Fogies  are  proud  of  it. 
We  also  point  with  pride  to  the  fact  that  few  towns  could 
ever  have  attained  the  greatness  of  Albany,  and  still  have 
managed  to  retain  so  large  a  number  of  its  primitive  ways 
as  we  have  done.  We  feel  assured  that  no  other  city  of  the 
same  magnitude,  so  closely  resembles  a  country  village,  as 
to  tolerate  the  gossip,  the  slander,  and  the  miserable,  small 
meannesses,  which  the  dear  departed  delighted  in.  And,  as 
we  reflect  upon  these,  and  kindred  facts,  and  gaze  upon  our 
casket  of  virtues,  our  breasts  throb  with  mingled  pride  and 
grief, — utterance  fails  us,  and  our  silent  tears  alone,  mark 
our  loss.  But,  my  brethren,  while  we  mourn  our  dead,  it  is 
but  meet  that  we  temper  our  grief  with  tender  reminiscences 
of  the  past.  Dear  Old  Fogies  !  Old  Antideluvians,  whose 
lumbering,  tortoise-like  pace  has  held  us  back  in  the  race  of 
progress  for  so  many  years  !  Is  it,  indeed,  true  that  we  are 
to  part  from  you  forever  ?  That  you  are  about  to  vanish 
from  our  gaze  in  a  cloud  of  flames  and  smoke,  even  like  the 
obstacles  which  you  were  so  wont  to  strew  in  our  pathway. 
And,  as  the  flames  ascend  skyward,  and  the  glowing  sparks 
are  all  borne  upward  on  the  bosom  of  the  billowy  vapors, 
will  we  perchance  view  your  disembodied  spirits  ?  Perhaps, 
my  brethren,  we  will  even  be  able  to  recognize  some  of 
them.  Oh,  what  joy  to  be  able  to  point  out  the  patriotic  soul 
of  him  who  spoke  the  immortal  words,  "  I  see  no  necessity  for 
commemorating  our  Two  Hundredth  Birthday."  What  bliss 
to  distinguish,  'midst  the  curling  smoke,  the  shining  immor- 
tality   of  that   ancient   relic   who    remarked,  "  Yes,  by    all 

325 


means,  let  us  have  a  celebration.  I  see  opportunities  for 
earning  much  by  it,  but  I  can't  afford  to  give  anything." 
Or  even  to  view  the  mis-shapen,  deformed  vital  spark  that 
animated  the  man  of  wealth,  who  subscribed  $5.00.  But 
oh,  my  brethren !  while  the  past  centuries  are  slipping 
onward  toward  the  brink  of  eternity,  let  us  pause  in  our 
lamentations.  I  offer  you,  in  your  great  grief,  words  of 
comfort  and  of  joy.  There  is  yet  a  future  ahead  —  a  future 
before  which  the  history  of  the  past  will  sink  into  oblivion — 
a  future  in  which  the  years  to  come  shall  retrieve  the  errors 
of  those  that  are  gone.  Let  us,  then,  exchange  tears  for 
the  dead  and  smiles  for  the  living,  while  we  congratulate 
ourselves  that  there  is  among  us  an  element  battling  nobly 
for  prosperity.  The  seed  is  sown,  and  it  needs  but  time  to 
bring  forth  the  harvest,  and  "  by  their  fruits  shall  we  know 
them."  Then,  brethren,  when  the  "  ancients"  awake  to  find 
themselves  the  "  Rip  Van  Winkles  "  of  modem  times,  and 
realize  that  their  sun  is  set,  and  they  must  "  move  on,"  then 
will  Albany  rise  to  the  dignity  which  it  deserves,  and  on  our 
next  centennial  anniversary  may  the  half-civilized  Trojan,  as 
he  hangs  over  the  fence  which  marks  the  boundary  between 
ancient  Troy  and  the  rest  of  Albany,  exclaim,  as  he  gazes 
seriously  upon  our  fair  proportions,  "  This  is  indeed  a  city." 
Amen. 

As  the  address  drew  near  a  conclusion,  the  torch 
was  applied  to  the  tarred  lid  of  the  coffin  and  in  an 
instant  the  flames  leaped  high  in  air,  and  the  mystic 
brethren,  burning  blue  lights,  joined  in  a  ghostly 
dance  about  the  burning  pyre.  The  banner  was 
thrust  in  and  added  fresh  fuel  to  the  flames,  and 
finally  the  high  priest  kicked  over  the  pyre,  and  amid 
an  uproar  that  was  deafening  the  mystic  crew 
re-formed,  marched  out  of  the  inclosure  down  Pine 
street  to  Lodge,  over  Lodge  and  up  Maiden  lane  to 
Russell's  stable,  where  robes  and  masks  were  removed 
and  they  were  recognized  as  common  mortals  after  all. 
They  were : 

Officers—  H.  C.  Staats,  M.  W.  H.  P. ;   T.  E.  Burn- 

326 


ham,  W.  H.  P. ;  H.  W.  Robbins.  H.  P. ;  A.  A.  Allen, 
A,  H.  P. ;  J.  F.  Umpleby,  jr.,  secretary;  C.  B.  Staats, 
treasurer;  Horace  Hogle,  warden;  H.  G.  Stevens, 
marshal ;   Frank  Winnie,  first  assistant  marshal ;   W. 

E.  Bortle,  second  assistant  marshal ;  B.  F.  Waite,  H. 
S.;  A.  Harding,  A.  H.  S. ;  J.  A.  Selkirk,  I.  G. ;  E. 
L.  M.  Robbins,  C.  R.  B. ;  R.  G.  Bingham,  A.  R.  B. ; 
I.  H.  Meroth,  R.  B. 

Members  —  J.  A.  Daniels,  H.  B.  Winne,  D.  M. 
Alexander,  G.  H.  Sharp,  W.  J.  Hall,  J.  W.  Ten  Eyck, 
G.  P.  Bingham,  W.  J.  S.  Killicorn,  A.  H.  Rennie,  L. 
J.  Barhydt,  C.  Strevel,  J.  A.  Howe,  jr.,  F.  W.  Hem- 
ming, W.  M.  Crehan,  W.  L.  Becker,  H.  Simmons,  G. 

F.  Whysley,  H.  D.  Buck,  A.  E.  Bachelder,  C.  A. 
Eversten,  G.  E.  Uline,  H.  P.  Williamson,  J.  Long,  G. 
J.  Green,  D.  M.  Kinnear,  J.  M.  Holler,  B.  F.  Haight, 

D.  W.  Bugle,  W.  H.  Branion,  J.  Q.  Van  Alstyne,  E. 

E.  Wygant,  J.  F.  Kennedy,  W.  F.  Clark,  C.  W. 
Brown,  D.  H.  Johnson,  C.  J.  Sohni,  D.  M.  Watkins, 
J.  G.  Agar,  D.  E.  B.  Fales,  J.  D.  Rockefeller,  C.  G. 
Hubbell,  G.  H.  Parker,  W.  W.  Mink,  A.  K.  Sang- 
master. 


THURSDAY,  JULY  22ND. 
Bi-Centennial  Day. 

Sunrise. — Salute  of  two  hundred  guns — fifty  from 
four  different  points. 

Morning. — Grand  parade  of  local  and  visiting  mili- 
tary organizations  and  Grand  Army  posts,  acting  as 
escort  to  President  Cleveland,  to  Governor  David  B. 


327 


Hill,  Orator  of  the  Day ;  William  H.  McElroy,  Poet, 
and  to  distinguished  guests,  among  whom  are  Mem- 
bers of  the  cabinet,  Governors  of  the  States,  mem- 
bers of  Congress,  mayors  of  the  leading  cities,  and 
others. 

Afternoon. — Oration,  poem  and  addresses  com- 
memorative of  the  Two  Hundredth  Anniversary. 
The  literary  exercises  interspersed  with  orchestral  and 
choral  music  on  a  grand  scale. 

Evening. — Municipal  reception  in  Senate  chamber, 
State  Capitol,  to  President  Cleveland  and  cabinet. 
Federal  and  State  officials,  and  other  invited  guests. 
After  the  reception,  grand  display  of  fire-works  in 
Washington  park. 

The  Military  Parade. 

general  orders. 

Headquarters  Bi-Centenial  ^ 
Military  Day  Parade.        > 
Albany,  July  15,  1886.  ) 
General  Orders  No.  i  : 

I.  Having  been  elected  marshal  of  the  day,  I  do 
hereby  assume  command  and  appoint  Col.  Alexander 
Strain  adjutant  and  chief  of  staff. 

II.  The  following  officers  are  assigned  as  division 
marshals : 

First  division,  Brig.-Gen.  Robert  Shaw  Oliver,  Na- 
tional Guard. 

Second  division,  Maj.  George  H.  Treadwell,  Grand 
Army. 

Third  division,  Capt.  Thomas  W.  Cantwell,  inde- 
pendent military  organizations. 

328 


Fourth  division,  Maj.  Edward  D.  Ronan,  escort 
division. 

III.  The  following  are  appointed  assistant  mar- 
shals and  aids-de-camp :  Col.  Theodore  E.  Weiders- 
heim,  Maj.  John  Newman,  Maj.  Hiram  L.  Wash- 
burn, jr.,  Capts.  James  H.  Manning,  John  Palmer, 
Henry  B.  Diamond,  Joseph  Fisher,  Wm.  E.  Milbank, 
Benj.  R.  Spellman,  jr.,  Frank  Childs,  G.  Henry  Secor, 
George  H.  Mackey,  Simeon  Lodewick,  John  B.  Mil- 
ler, Lewis  H.  Smith,  Lieuts.  James  McNaughton, 
Wm.  M.  Whitney,  jr.,  Amasa  J.  Parker,  3d,  Alexan- 
der Strain,  jr.,  William  Wallace,  Peyton  F.  Miller, 
John  W.  McKnight,  James  Purcell,  Kyran  Cleary, 
George  Story,  Isaac  Hungerford. 

IV.  The  above  named  officers  will  be  obeyed  and 
respected  accordingly. 

Amasa  J.  Parker,  Jr., 
Marshal  of  the  Day. 
Alexander  Strain, 

Adjutant  and  Chief  of  Staff. 

FORMATION   AND    ROUTE. 

First  division,  Brig.-Gen.  Robert  S.  Oliver,  will 
form  on  North  Pearl  street,  right  resting  on  Steuben. 
Second  division,  Maj.  Geo.  H.  Treadwell,  will  form  on 
Broadway,  right  resting  on  Steuben.  Third  division, 
Capt.  Thos.  W.  Cantwell,  will  form  on  South  Broad- 
way, right  resting  on  State.  Fourth  division,  Maj. 
Edward  D.  Ronan,  will  form  on  Eagle,  right  resting 
on  State. 

Route — State  to  Eagle,  to  Washington  avenue,  to 
Lark,  to  Clinton  avenue,  to  North  Pearl,  to  Columbia, 

329 


to  Broadway,  to  State,  to  South  Pearl,  to  Hudson 
avenue,  to  Dove,  to  State  street. 

Parade  will  be  dismissed  corner  State  and  Eagle 
streets,  after  the  fourth  division  has  passed  in  review 
of  the  first,  second  and  third  divisions  on  State 
street.  At  conclusion  of  the  parade,  the  staff,  with 
the  Troy  Citizens'  Corps  and  band,  will  proceed  to  the 
Delavan  House,  and  escort  the  Senate  and  Assembly 
and  all  ex-senators  and  assemblymen  to  the  tent  in 
Capitol  park. 

The  heavy  bass  of  two  hundred  cannon  sang  in 
continuous  strain  that  morning  to  greet  the  sunrise  of 
Bi-centennial  Day.  Tenor  and  soprano  of  horn, 
pistol,  cheer  and  fire-cracker,  long  before  daybreak 
had  made  sleep  well  nigh  impossible  and  the  heavy 
tone  of  the  guns  roused  half-awake  Albany,  or  at  least 
that  portion  of  its  inhabitants  that  had  secured  any 
sleep  at  all,  to  participate  in  the  exercises  of  the  clos- 
ing day.  Down  town  the  shrill  notes  of  the  fife  and 
the  rataplan  of  the  drum  betokened  the  early  arrival 
of  the  visiting  military  companies.  The  sun  was  not 
high  in  the  sky  when  the  red  line  of  the  Burgesses 
corps  was  drawn  up  to  receive  President  Cleveland 
and  party  at  the  railway  station.  The  pomp  and 
circumstance  of  war  had  been  reserved  for  the  last 
day.  The  soldiers  were  to  surround  with  evidences 
of  power  and  perpetuity  the  end  of  the  celebration. 
Two  hundred  guns  then  hailed  the  dawn ;  men  pano- 
plied in  all  the  might  of  arms  tramped  the  street  and 
with  them  those  to  whom  war  had  once  been  a  stern 
reality.  With  this  display  of  might,  honored  by  the 
presence  of  the  chief  magistrate  of  the  nation  and  of 

330 


the  representatives  of  Holland,  whence  Albany  drew 
its  first  strong  blood,  praised  in  eloquent  words  by  the 
Governor  of  the  first  State  of  the  Union  of  which  she 
has  long  been  the  capital  city,  and  sung  by  the  poet, 
Albany  celebrated  the  day,  marking  the  completion 
of  its  two  centuries  of  municipal  life.  By  ten  o'clock, 
all  the  troops  were  in  position  ready  to  move  and  the 
leading  thoroughfares  were  so  thronged  that  passage 
through  them  was  almost  impossible.  The  four 
mounted  police  riding  ahead  of  the  column  were  able 
to  clear  the  pavements  only  with  great  difficulty. 

The  First  Division. 

The  Pearl  street  sidewalks  from  State  to  Steuben 
streets  were  fenced  in  with  heavy  ropes,  and  the 
crowd  kept  back  of  them  by  a  liberal  cordon  of 
policemen.  Brig. -Gen.  Robert  Shaw  Oliver  com- 
manded the  First  division  and  formed  it  in  the  space 
named.  He  was  ably  assisted  by  these  staff  offi- 
cers, Capt.  Harry  C.  Cushman,  A.  A.  A.  G. ;  Maj. 
Samuel  G.  Ward,  Maj.  Jacob  H.  Tremper,  Maj. 
Albert  Hoysradt,  Maj.  Henry  A.  Allen,  Maj.  Richard 
T.  Lockley,  Maj.  James  O.  Woodward,  Maj.  Harmon 
P.  Read,  Maj.  Robert  L.  Banks,  jr.,  Capt.  Guy  E. 
Baker. 

The  division  was  composed  of  the  various  com- 
panies and  the  battalion  of  the  Fifth  brigade  and  was 
divided  in  two  regiments  and  a  provisional  battalion. 

The  First  regiment,  in  command  of  Lieut. -Col. 
William  E.  Fitch,  was  headed  by  the  Tenth  regiment 
band  and  composed  as  follows  :  Tenth  battalion  drum 
corps,    twenty    men ;    Company  B,   Tenth  battalion, 

331 


Lieut.  A.  K.  Sangmaster,  commanding,  one  officer  and 
forty-eight  men ;  Company  C,  Tenth  battalion  (color 
company),  Capt.  James  L.  Hyatt,  commanding,  one 
officer  and  forty  men ;  Company  A,  Tenth  battalion, 
Capt.  Albert  J.  Wing,  commanding,  one  officer  and 
forty-three  men  ;  Company  D,  Tenth  battalion,  Capt. 
Edgar  V.  Denison,  commanding,  one  officer  and 
forty-five  men ;  Twelfth  separate  company  of  Troy, 
Capt.  Joseph  Egolf,  commanding,  one  officer  and 
sixty-eight  men ;  Twenty-first  separate  company  of 
Troy,  Capt.  Samuel  Foster,  commanding,  two  officers 
and  sixty-three  men ;  Sixth  separate  company  of 
Troy,  Lieut.-Col.  James  W.  Cusack,  commanding, 
three  officers  and  ninety-five  men  ;  Gatling  gun 
squad,  eight  men,  Capt.  Wm.  B.  Thompson,  com- 
manding. 

The  Second  regiment  was  in  command  of  Maj. 
William  Haubennestel,  with  John  P.  Wilson  of  Pough- 
keepsie  as  adjutant,  John  I.  Pruyn  of  Yonkers,  as 
quartermaster,  and  Stewart  B.  Carlisle,  of  Mt.  Vernon, 
surgeon.  It  moved  in  this  order :  Twenty-first  regi- 
ment band,  twenty-one  pieces ;  Nineteenth  separate 
company  of  Poughkeepsie,  Lieut.  Lewis  P.  Hauben- 
nestel, in  command,  four  officers  and  eighty-seven 
men ;  Fifteenth  separate  company  of  Poughkeepsie, 
Capt.  Berthold  Myers,  commanding,  two  officers  and 
forty-three  men ;  Twenty-third  separate  company  of 
Hudson,  Capt.  William  B.  Elting,  commanding,  two 
officers  and  fifty  men ;  Fourth  separate  company  of 
Yonkers,  Capt.  Raffaelle  Cobb,  commanding,  three 
officers  and  fifty-eight  men ;  Fifth  separate  company 
of  Newburgh,  Capt.  Joseph  C.  Chase,  commanding, 

332 


two  officers  and  thirty-nine  men ;  Eleventh  separate 
company  of  Mt.  Vernon,  Capt.  I.  N.  Pressey,  com- 
manding, four  officers  and  fifty-two  men ;  Sixteenth 
separate  company  of  Catskill,  Capt.  A.  M.  Murphy, 
commanding,  three  officers  and  forty-two  men  ;  Four- 
teenth separate  company  of  Kingston,  four  officers 
and  fifty-four  men.  Both  regiments  were  in  full  State 
service  uniform. 

The  right  of  the  provisional  battalion  was  given  to 
Co.  D,  First  regiment  of  Philadelphia,  the  Zouave 
Cadets'  guests,  Capt.  Henry  O.  Hastings  command- 
ing. The  command  was  dressed  in  blue  blouse  of 
Prussian  pattern,  white  helmets  and  wore  white  trou- 
sers. They  were  preceded  by  the  Waccaco  band  of 
Philadelphia. 

The  battalion  was  in  command  of  Maj.  Norton 
Chase,  with  Lieut.  Albert  L.  Judson  as  adjutant,  and 
moved  in  this  order,  following  Co.  D.  of  Philadelphia: 
Thirty-sixth  separate  company  of  Schenectady,  Lieut. 
Joseph  F.  White,  commanding,  two  officers  and  forty- 
eight  men  ;  Ninth  separate  company  of  Whitehall, 
Lieut.  R.  H.  Davis,  commanding,  three  officers  and 
sixty-five  men;  Twenty-second  separate  company  of 
Saratoga,  Capt.  Robert  C.  McEwen,  commanding, 
three  officers  and  fifty-five  men. 

The  Second  Division. 
The  Second  division  formed  on  Broadway  with  the 
right  resting  on  Steuben  street.  It  was  the  division 
in  which  were  all  the  veterans  of  the  late  war  who 
paraded.  Men  were  there  who  marched  just  as 
steadily  and  sturdily  amid  the  tempest  of  shot  and 

333 


shell  on  the  battle-field  as  they  did  to-day  over  the 
pavements  of  Albany.  Men  were  there,  too,  who 
bore  on  their  persons  the  marks  of  gallant  and  honor- 
able service.  It  was  the  division  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic.  The  marshal  in  command  was  Maj. 
George  H.  Treadwell,  and  his  aids  were  Capt.  A.  H. 
Spierre  of  Lew.  O.  Morris  Post  No.  121  as  chief  of 
staff.  Commander  William  A.  Wallace,  Commander 
Abram  Ashley  and  Comrades  C.  F,.  R,  Coe  and  J.  G. 
Breckenridge.  All  of  them  were  mounted.  The  City 
band  of  Plattsburgh,  numbering  fifty-two  pieces, 
headed  the  division,  which  was  divided  in  two  regi- 
ments, one  commanded  by  Col.  M.  J.  Severance  and 
the  other  by  Capt.  W.  Green. 

The  right  of  the  First  regiment  was  occupied  by  the 
Tibbitts  Veteran  Corps  association  of  Troy,  in  full  uni- 
form, under  command  of  Lieut.  Walter  L.  Davis,  and 
numbering  thirty-five  musketmen.  Next  came  Lew. 
Benedict  Post  No.  5  of  this  city,  who  did  full  honor  to 
the  Bi-centennial  anniversary  by  turning  out  two  hun- 
dred strong,  under  command  of  Capt.  Geo.  W.  Davey. 
Capt.  Frank  Edgerton  was  in  command  of  the  post 
staff.  The  post's  drum  corps  of  twelve  pieces  were 
also  on  hand.  Following  them  came  Lewis  O.  Morris 
Post  No.  121,  one  hundred  and  twenty  strong,  under 
command  of  Capt.  William  W.  Bennett,  headed  by  the 
drum  corps  of  Dahlgreen  Post  No.  113,  numbering 
forty-four.  G.  L.  Willard  Post  No.  34  of  Troy,  under 
command  of  Judge  L.  E.  Griffith,  numbering  sixty-five 
men,  came  next,  and  were  headed  by  a  drum  corps  of 
eight  pieces.  Kane  Post  No.  312  of  West  Troy  came 
next  with  fifty  men  and  the  Watervliet  band  of  eighteen 

334 


pieces.  Thurlow  Weed  Post  No.  400  of  East  Albany- 
came  over  the  bridge  with  fifty  battle-scarred  veterans, 
commanded  by  N.  W.  Bell.  Following  came  E.  S. 
Young  Post  No.  33  of  Amsterdam,  thirty-four  strong, 
under  command  of  Capt.  J.  W.  Kimball.  The  next 
post  in  order  was  R.  L.  Lathrop  No.  138  of  Hudson,  T. 
Berridge  commander,  all  uniformed,  and  numbered 
fifty  men.  Thomas  M.  Burt  Post  No.  171  of  Valatie, 
put  in  an  appearance  with  forty  men,  T.  Goldsmith 
commander.  New  Baltimore  contributed  a  delegation 
of  twenty  members  of  A.  O.  Bliss  Post  No.  305,  with 
H.  W.  Mead  as  commander,  and  thirty  members  of 
Tyler  Post  No.  1 3 1  of  Jefferson  were  in  line  under  com- 
mand of  Comrade  R.  S.  Taber.  Washington  county  was 
represented  by  ten  members  of  Post  No.  309  of  Cam- 
bridge, of  which  W.  J.  Gibson  is  commander,  united 
with  twenty-six  members  of  Post  No.  570  of  Salem, 
and  came  down  together  under  command  of  Maj.  W. 
J.  Cruikshank  of  the  latter  post. 

Saratoga  county  was  represented  by  twenty-five 
members  of  Gilbert  Thomas  Post  No.  480  of  Still- 
water, under  command  of  Capt.  John  Ward,  and 
several  members  of  Wheeler  Post  No.  92  of  Saratoga 
Springs.  Eighteen  members  of  Henry  Ensign  Post 
No.  568,  under  command  of  R.  Hulbert,  representing 
Brunswick,  Rensselaer  county.  In  carriages  at  the 
end  of  the  division  were  contained  these  veterans : 
Commander  R.  F.  Knapp  of  Wheeler  Post  No.  92  of 
Saratoga,  Col.  George  T.  T.  Downing,  aid-de-camp 
on  the  staff  of  Department  Commander  Sayles,  Junior 
Vice-Commander  Ormsby  of  Wheeler  Post  No.  92, 
comrade  L.  C.  Ormsby  of  Lew.  O.  Morris   Post  No. 


335 


121,  Commander  Daniel  Gleason,  John  S.  Chandel, 
Henry  Baker  and  W.  H.  Shants,  of  Post  No.  121  ; 
John  Nott,  of  Post  No.  305  ;  A.  R.  Johnson,  of  Post 
No.  5  ;  E.  V,  Reckmyer,  of  Post  No.  215  of  Sauger- 
ties,  and  Angevine  Himes,  of  Post  No.  34  of  Troy. 
When  the  first  division  swept  down  Broadway  and  up 
State  in  splendid  form,  all  the  veterans  dipped  their 
colors  and  came  to  a  present  arms  with  their  rattan 
canes.  There  were  about  nine  hundred  and  fifty  in 
line. 

The  Third  Division. 

Although  smaller  numerically  than  the  other  divis- 
ions, the  third  composed,  with  a  single  exception,  of 
companies  outside  of  the  national  guard,  presented  a 
fine  display  and  was  greatly  admired.  The  division 
was  under  command  of  Marshal  Thomas  W.  Cantwell 
and  the  following  efficient  aids  :  Chief  of  staff,  Thomas 
C.  Walsh ;  aids,  Joseph  B.  Zeiser,  John  J.  Mulderry, 
John  J.  Cassidy,  Jeremiah  J.  Maher,  Frank  S.  Niver, 
James  C.  Farrell,  James  Brennan,  Henry  J.  Kearney, 
jr.,  Joseph  A.  Wisely,  John  J.  Creagan  and  George  E. 
Latham. 

The  crowds  at  the  foot  of  State  street  were  very 
large.  The  Athletic  band  of  twenty-two  pieces  of 
Philadelphia,  led  the  division.  They  accompanied  the 
Rose  Guard  of  Philadelphia,  who  appeared  as  the 
guests  of  the  Jackson  Corps.  They  were  under  the 
command  of  Captain  James  P.  Holt,  First  Lieutenant 
Harry  Hilbourn,  Second  Lieutenant  Harry  Cole. 
They  had  thirty  rifles  and  three  line  officers.  They 
appeared  in  dark  blue  uniforms,  with  cap  of  same 
color    bearing    the    inscription,    "  Guard   94."      The 

336 


guard  is  connected  with  post  ninety-four,  G.  A.  R., 
of  Philadelphia,  a  delegation  of  which  accompanied 
them  as  guests.  The  following  composed  the  delega- 
tion :  Commander  Fred.  J.  Cotton,  senior  vice-com- 
mander, Alfred  O.  Kurtz ;  junior  vice-commander, 
William  Tinsley  and  five  comrades.  The  guard  were 
entertained  afterwards  at  the  armory  of  the  Jackson 
corps,  where  they  made  their  headquarters  while  in 
the  city. 

The  Schenectady  Washington  Continentals,  Captain 
George  W.  Marlette  commanding,  preceded  by  their 
own  drum  corps  of  eleven  men,  followed.  The  com- 
pany paraded  sixty  rifles  and  three  line  officers,  and 
attracted  applause  all  along  the  line ;  appeared  in  an 
independent  uniform,  consisting  of  red  coat,  light 
blue  trowsers  and  bearskin  shakos. 

The  Severance  Cadets,  under  command  of  Captain 
William  Addington,  and  with  two  line  officers  and 
twenty-seven  men  followed  the  Continentals.  They 
appeared  in  new  uniform  pants  of  dark  blue  with 
white  stripe.  The  Johnstown  band  of  twenty  pieces 
followed,  and  preceded  the  famous  Keck  Zouaves, 
accompanied  by  fifty  well-known  citizens  of  Johns- 
town, who  are  honorary  members  of  the  company. 
They  were  commanded  by  Captain  P.  F.  Case  and 
had  three  line  officers  and  forty  men  in  the  procession. 
The  uniforms  worn  by  the  command  consisting  of  red 
and  white  fez,  light-blue  blouse,  dark-blue  jacket,  red 
pants  and  white  leggins,  presented  a  handsome  ap- 
pearance. 

The  following  disabled  veterans  of  the  Albany  Re- 
publican Artillery  appeared  in  carriages,  following  the 

337 


zouaves :  J.  S.  Graves,  John  Fredenrich,  C.  V.  Gibson, 
Jacob  Fredenrich,  J.  W.  Baker,  John  Guardineer, 
Peter  Hilton,  John  S.  Clarke,  Edmund  Nesbitt,  John 
Niblock,  A.  S.  Richard,  S.  P.  Winne,  A.  Austin,  John 
Morrison,  John  L.  Coon,  John  Travers,  J.  W.  Upjohn, 
S.  L.  Bridgeford. 

Captain  Philip  Guardineer  was  in  command  of  the 
latter.  Frederick  Townsend  Post,  No.  i,  Sons  of  Vet- 
erans, preceded  by  their  drum  corps  of  twenty-two 
men,  had  the  left  of  the  line.  The  post  turned  out 
three  line  officers  and  sixty  men  under  the  command 
of  Commander  James  F.  McCabe. 

The  fourth  division,  occupying  the  left  of  the  col- 
umn, though  the  smallest,  held  the  position  of  guard 
of  honor  to  the  President,  Governor,  poet,  orator  and 
officers  of  the  municipality.  It  was  under  command 
of  Col.  Edward  D.  Ronan,  and  comprised  of  the 
most  celebrated  military  organizations  of  New  York 
and  the  New  England  States.  It  formed  on  Eagle 
street,  right  resting  on  State.  At  the  head  of  the 
division  rode  Col.  Ronan,  with  staff  as  follows :  Col. 
Wm.  H.  Terrell,  chief  of  staff.  Aids,  Col.  Joseph  P. 
Eustace,  Col.  E.  J.  Bennett,  Capt.  S.  Y.  Southard, 
Capt.  Wm.  Todd,  Capt.  George  W.  Hobbs,  Capt.  S. 
S.  Mitchell,  Capt.  David  Teller,  Sergt.  A.  Shter,  Wm. 
J.  Nellis,  Fred.  E.  Wadhams,  Solan  Slade,  Frank 
Lodewick,  Thomas  Bishop,  Robert  Webster. 

The  staff,  in  semi-military  dress  and  finely  mounted, 
appeared  to  advantage  at  the  head  of  this  distin- 
guished division.  Following  was  the  staff  of  the 
Burgesses  Corps,  with  an  honorary  staff  of  delegates 
from  the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Company 

338 


of  Boston,  Boston  Light  Infantry  Veteran  Corps, 
Charlestown  Cadets  Veteran  Association,  Worcester 
Continentals,  Governor's  Foot  Guard  of  Hartford ; 
Sixth  battery.  Fourth  division,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y. ;  Sec- 
ond battery,  First  division,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y, ;  Hart- 
ford City  Guard,  veterans ;  Twenty-third  regiment, 
N.  G.  S.  N.  Y. ;  veterans.  Twenty-second  regiment, 
N.  G.  S.  N.  Y. ;  Old  Guard,  New  York ;  Utica  Citi- 
zens' Corps;  Providence  Light  Infantry:  Capt.  Oscar 
Smith,  acting  adjutant.  The  honorary  stafif  numbers 
fifty-four,  and  was  conspicuous  for  the  richness  of  its 
uniforms,  and  was  headed  by  the  Germania  band  of 
Pittsfield,  twenty-three  pieces.  The  Burgesses  them- 
selves were  close  behind  their  visitors,  and  made  a 
splendid  showing  at  every  point,  in  scarlet  and  gold 
uniforms  and  bearskin  shakos.  Their  strength  was 
six  staff,  three  line  and  fifty-six  muskets.  The  Old 
Guard  veterans'  battalion  of  the  Seventh  regiment, 
two  hundred  strong,  commanded  by  Col.  Locke  W. 
Winchester,  and  headed  by  Cappa's  Seventh  regiment 
band,  whose  music  was  a  continuous  delight,  held  the 
extreme  left  of  the  military  column.  At  the  head  of 
the  carriages  rode  City  Marshal  Thomas  H.  Craven. 

THE    PRESIDENT. 

In  the  third  carriage,  seated  beside  Mayor 
Thacher,  was  President  Cleveland,  who  was  saluted 
with  cheers  as  he  passed.  William  H.  McElroy, 
poet  of  the  day,  and  President  McCann  of  the  com- 
mon council,  followed,  and  in  the  fifth  carriage  was 
Governor  Hill  and  Gen.  James  W.  Husted,  while 
behind  it  rode  the  Governor's  staff  in  gorgeous  uni- 

339 


form.  Last  of  all  were  the  members  of  the  common 
council  and  Bi-centennial  committee  in  carriages. 
President  Cleveland  kept  his  head  uncovered  through- 
out the  line  of  march,  and  acknowledged  the  cheers 
and  other  demonstrations  with  which  he  was  greeted 
almost  continuously. 

EXERCISES   AT   THE    RINK, 

About  I  :  30  in  the  afternoon  Mayor  Thacher, 
accompanied  by  the  President,  Secretaries  Bayard 
and  Whitney,  Governor  Hill  and  Bishop  Doane  entered 
the  rink  and  took  their  places  on  the  stage.  Several 
aids  escorted  them.  The  Schubert  club  and  Troy 
vocal  society  were  seated  on  the  stage,  behind  many 
invited  guests,  among  whom  were :  Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor Jones,  Secretary  of  State  Cook,  Attorney-Gen- 
eral O'Brien,  Judge  Alton  B,  Parker,  Insurance 
Superintendent  Maxwell,  Judge  Muller  and  other 
State  officers  and  their  families  were  given  seats  on 
the  platform,  and  Mrs.  John  Boyd  Thacher  was  the 
centre  of  a  group  of  Albany  ladies. 

About  two  P.  M.  the  legislative  members  arrived, 
two  hundred  in  number,  and  took  seats  which  had 
been  reserved  for  them  in  the  centre  of  the  audito- 
rium. The  crowd  was  now  dense ;  there  was  a  black 
mass  of  people  throughout  the  house,  a  perfect  sea 
of  faces. 

Conductor  Greig  immediately  lifted  his  baton  and 
the  overture  from  "  William  Tell  "  commenced. 


340 


THE   BISHOP  S    PRAYER. 

Bishop  Doane  then  offered  the  following  prayer : 

"  O  God,  the  protector  of  all  that  trust  in  Thee,  without 
Whom  nothing  is  strong,  nothing  is  holy,"  Who  hast  given  us 
the  inheritance  of  our  fathers,  that  we  may  dwell  in  this  city, 
which  they  founded  in  Thy  fear,  "  increase  and  multiply 
upon  us  Thy  mercy."  Establish  and  make  sure  the  firm 
foundations  of  civil  and  religious  liberty,  on  which  they 
began  to  build ;  and  while  Thou  keepest  us  secure  in  all  our 
rights,  make  us  faithful  to  all  our  duties,  and  careful  of  all 
our  trusts.  Bless  the  magistrates  and  all  whom  we  entrust 
with  the  authority  of  governance.  Behold  with  Thy  favor 
and  replenish  with  Thy  grace.  Thy  servants,  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  the  Governor  of  this  State,  and  the 
Mayor  of  this  city.  Strengthen  and  uphold  their  hands  for 
the  maintenance  of  order,  the  furtherance  of  morality,  the 
advancement  of  true  religion,  and  the  preservation  of  peace. 
Prosper  all  works  undertaken  to  Thy  honor  and  glory,  for 
the  promotion  of  sound  learning,  the  healing  of  the  sick, 
the  relief  of  the  poor,  and  the  care  of  the  aged,  the  widowed 
and  the  fatherless.  Send  Thy  blessing  with  power  upon 
every  effort  to  build  up  and  extend  the  Kingdom  of  Thy 
dear  Son  in  our  city,  and  throughout  our  land ;  in  the  hearts 
of  our  citizens,  and  of  all  mankind.  Hallow  and  make 
happy  the  peoples'  homes.  Prosper  our  industries.  Guide 
and  enlarge  and  give  the  increase  to  enterprise  and  labor. 
Teach  us  to  love  things  that  are  true,  and  honest,  and  just, 
and  pure,  and  lovely,  and  of  good  report.  Make  us  of  one 
mind  as  citizens,  in  all  that  concerns  the  welfare  of  the  city, 
and  give  us  grace  to  dwell  together  in  unity.  Help  us  who 
honor  the  names,  to  maintain  the  virtues  of  our  fathers,  and 
hand  down  our  heritage  unharmed  and  increased  to  "  the 
children  of  the  generations  to  come,  that  they  may  know 
the  mighty  and  wonderful  works  which  Thou  hast  done." 
Keep  us  under  the  protection  of  Thy  good  Providence, 
strong  and  steadfast  in  Thy  faith  and  fear ;  that  loving  our 
city  and  our  country,  we  may  live  as  men  who  "  desire  a 
better  Country,  that  is,  an  heavenly,"  and  who  look  for  the 
"  City  which  hath  foundations,  whose  builder  and  maker  " 
Thou  art.  And  give  us  grace  "  so  to  pass  through  things 
temporal,  that  we  finally  lose  not  the  things  eternal,"  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.     Amen. 


341 


THE   MAYOR  S    FELICITOUS   ADDRESS. 

Mayor  Thacher  then  delivered  the  following  felici- 
tous address : 

Citizens  :  Back  of  Albany  to-day  lie  two  hundred  years 
of  municipal  history.  Behind  these  two  hundred  are  two 
and  seventy  other  years  of  recorded  and  authentic  events. 
Back  of  these  two  and  seventy  years,  enshrouded  in  mist 
and  cloud,  are  the  uncertain  forms  and  shadowy  shapes  of 
the  years  which  belong  to  the  beginning  of  our  ancient 
town.  We  lay  our  hands  upon  our  first  charter  and  we 
touch  one  of  the  oldest  municipal  documents  in  America. 

It  shall  be  the  task  of  the  student  of  chronology  to 
establish  the  date  when  the  first  men  of  Europe  occupied 
this  site.  We  can  with  confidence  claim  an  older  history 
than  the  Puritan  colony.  Jamestown  died  intestate  and 
there  is  now  no  place  to  dispute  our  title  until  we  reach  on 
the  southern  coast  what  was  once  the  Spanish  possessions. 

This  river  of  ours,  which  seemed  to  flow  from  out  the 
mouth  of  the  great  north,  allured  the  early  navigators  up  its 
course  with  the  hope  that  it  was  an  easy  road  to  Asia.  It 
was  no  siren  song,  and  though  the  navigator  failed  to  inter- 
pret it  correctly,  it  sang  to  him  of  a  beautiful  country,  of  a 
rich  land,  of  beaver  skin  and  trade.  His  report  brought  to 
this  hillside  men  honest  and  industrious,  who  kept  a  simple 
faith  and  wrought  a  determined  work. 

It  was  for  a  home  somewhere  here  that  the  Puritans  in 
February,  1620,  made  bargain  with  the  Prince  of  Orange. 
The  patent,  for  some  reason,  was  not  granted  and  the  less 
hospitable  New  England  shore  received  them  some  months 
later.  We  lost  the  Puritans  but  we  gained  the  Dutchmen, 
and  while  in  some  respects  our  history  may  not  be  as  stirring 
or  eventful  as  theirs,  our  records  make  no  mention  of  Salem 
burnings  or  Quaker  scourgings.  If  witches  were  among  us 
they  walked  the  earth  or  rode  the  air  unmolested  and  the 
Quaker,  unreviled,  went  about  his  peaceful  way. 

If  ancientness  of  days  was  all  our  claim  for  distinction 
and  honor,  we  should  merit  no  great  memorial.  Our  war- 
rant for  renown  is  based  on  the  good  report  those  days  have 
borne  to  the  judgment  place  of  the  world.  The  philosopher 
has  observed  that  history  is  made  up  of  distinct  and  advanc- 
ing moves  like  those  in  a  game  of  chess.  In  the  making  of 
American  history  Albany  has  been  an  important  piece  upon 

342 


the  board,  andhas  been  the  castle  which  more  than  once  has* 
checked  the  course  of  kings.  Our  Dutch  city  stood  Hke  a 
mighty  fortress  against  the  French,  shielding  and  protecting 
the  Enghsh  in  New  York  and  in  New  England.  When  the 
Dutch  gave  in  their  allegiance  to  English  rule,  they  trans- 
ferred with  it  the  friendship  of  the  Five  Nations  and  effected 
new  and  lasting  treaties.  Whoever  reads  American  history 
must  observe  the  great  importance  of  this  alliance  with  the 
Iroquois.  They  acted  as  guards,  as  scouts,  as  skirmishers. 
Again  and  again  these  friendly  relations  were  strained  and 
nearly  sundered  by  mdiscreet  and  selfish  men  and  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Albany  were  frequent  but  always  successful  peace- 
makers. There  never  was  a  year  from  the  first  settlement 
until  the  middle  of  the  eighteeth  century  in  which  a  war 
with  the  Iroquois  would  not  have  meant  French  ascendency 
and  a  changed  destiny  for  America.  Albany  was  the  key 
to  the  situation  in  the  great  game  of  war. 

It  is  given  to  others  this  day  to  speak  of  our  city's  worth 
and  to  tell  her  glories.  I  would  add  to  the  chaplet  to  be  laid 
upon  her  brow  a  single  tribute. 

Here  in  the  year  1754  was  assembled  the  first  colonial 
congress.  Province  and  colony  sent  their  delegates  to 
consider  a  confederation  of  eleven  of  the  States.  That  was 
a  memorable  gathering.  In  this  city,  and  in  no  other  place, 
American  liberty  was  born !  In  this  city,  and  in  no  other 
place,  the  American  Union  was  born  !  In  this  city,  and  in 
no  other  place,  was  born  that  two-fold  principle  made  up  of 
liberty  and  union,  one  and  inseparable ;  that  principle  which 
shall  ever  live  and  never  die ;  that  principle  which  is  broad 
like  the  continents,  deep  like  the  seas,  and  which  for  per- 
petuity is  like  the  stars  fixed  against  the  skies. 

Mayor  Thacher  then  announced  the  poet  of  the 
day,  William  H.  McEIroy. 

The  Poem. 
I. 

One  fateful  day,  a  people  dear  to  God, 

Strong  in  his  strength  the  house  of  bondage  fleeing, 

Between  the  parted  waves  in  triumph  trod, 
The  sea  herself  their  vahant  ally  being; 

The  free-born  sea  rose  up  on  either  hand 

And  made  a  pathway  to  the  Promised  Land. 

343 


■   But  when  along  that  wond'rous,  wave-walled  path 
The  tyrant  pressed,  the  fugitives  pursuing, 
The  free-born  sea  was  moved  to  righteous  wrath, 
And  fiercely  charging  for  the  wrong's  undoing 
The  whelmed  Egyptians  agonized  in  vain  — 
The  longed-for  further  shore  they  might  not  gain. 

And  so  time's  flood  to  stem,  this  lustrous  hour, 
Behold  what  troops  of  memories  are  striving — 

O,  may  its  waters  wield  the  Red  Sea's  power. 
Thus  what  is  precious  in  our  past  surviving, 

All  vanished  ills,  the  ages'  cumbering  dross. 

Like  Pharaoh's  host  —  they  shall  not  get  across  ! 

II. 

As  the  minstrel  bends  over  his  lyre 

And  strikes  it  with  fingers  that  falter. 
Aflame  with  the  filial  desire 

That  the  song  shall  be  worthy  the  altar. 
When  the  jubilee's  ended  that  still 

Some  note  that  his  anthem  discloses 
Shall  linger  o'er  valley  and  hill. 

Like  the  scent  of  the  Bendemeer  roses, — 

Lo,  a  voice  —  lo  !  a  shape  in  the  air, — 

What  ghost  with  a  taste  for  the  merry, 
In  the  joy  of  this  pageant  to  share 

Comes  back  o'er  the  Stygian  ferry  ? 
What  phantom,  the  lyre  to  thrill. 

Has  left  the  Delectable  mountain, 
Where  the  Muses  the  nectar  distil 

That  is  hoarded  in  Helicon's  fountain  ? 

There's  a  sword  at  the  side  of  the  ghost. 

At  its  wrists  is  a  flourish  of  laces, 
Of  a  wonderful  wig  it  can  boast, 

Its  waistcoat  much  broidery  graces  ; 
The  hat  it  removes  from  its  head 

Has  too  many  corners  for  fashion, 
While  its  coat  is  so  vividly  red 

It  would  do  for  the  genius  of  passion ! 

With  a  bow  that  is  gracious  and  low. 

With  smiles  and  the  kindliest  glances. 
With  a  step  that  is  stately  and  slow, 

The  mystical  figure  advances  ; 
And  the  minstrel,  though  startled  the  while. 

Finds  naught  in  the  presence  unnerving, 
For  its  face  is  as  kind  as  the  smile 

That  plays  on  the  pages  of  Irving ! 

"  I  am  here,"  said  the  radiant  ghost, 

"  Pressing  back  through  eternity's  portal 

From  the  distant,  unspeakable  coast 
That  never  was  trodden  by  mortal ; — 

344 


It  is  love  that  the  ages  outwears, 
Its  kingdom  survives  every  other, 

So  Schuyler,  the  first  of  the  mayors. 
Comes  back  to  revisit  his  mother ! 

"  Uncovered  each  child  of  hers  stands 

As  round  her  we  ardently  rally, 
Her  hills  clap  their  verdure-clad  hands, 

Joy's  cup  runneth  o'er  in  the  valley ; 
The  river  that  hails  her  as  queen. 

Is  freighted  with  tender  emotion. 
And  sings  of  the  beautiful  scene 

Far  down  to  the  gate  of  the  ocean. 

"  And  now  as  you  reach  for  your  lyre, 

And  strike  it  with  fingers  that  falter. 
Aflame  with  the  filial  desire 

That  the  song  shall  be  worthy  the  altar, 
I  charge  you  to  Freedom  be  true 

If  the  strain's  to  be  worthy  our  mother. 
And  O,  let  the  Dutch  have  their  due, 

And  their  glory  not  go  to  another ! 

"When  the  knights  of  humanity  shine 

In  the  light  of  her  final  reviewing, 
You  shall  see —  at  the  right  of  the  line  — 

Who  most  for  her  cause  have  been  doing; 
You  shall  see  in  that  glorified  host 

The  Hollander,  ne'er  a  pretender, 
Whom  the  Pilgrim  could  ever  outboast. 

Named  Liberty's  stanchest  defender  ! 

"Turn  not  on  the  Pilgrim  with  jeers  — 

He  thought  he  was  serving  his  Maker 
When  he  cut  from  the  Baptist  his  ears 

And  strangled  the  decorous  Quaker  — 
His  witchcraft  you're  not  to  unhood. 

Nor  tell  of  the  saints  that  he  banished. 
For  we  know  his  intentions  were  good. 

And  his  bigotry  long  ago  vanished. 

"  But  fervent  for  justice  I  plead 

As  you  ponder  the  tomes  of  the  ages ; 
Look  well  to  the  record,  take  heed 

To  the  light  that  illumines  their  pages ; — 
There  —  that  is  my  mission  —  adieu  — 

If  your  tribute's  to  honor  our  mother, 
Let  the  Dutch,  let  the  Dutch  have  their  due, 

And  their  glory  not  go  to  another." 

III. 
Good  Peter  Schuyler,  there  was  little  need 
To  leave  this  mandate  in  the  minstrel's  ear; 
Unwarned  of  thee  he  still  had  taken  heed. 
The  Dutch  had  had  their  due.  Oh,  never  fear: 

345 


Or  else  the  spirit  of  this  grateful  year 
Has  lit  in  vain  the  torch  of  recollection, 
Whose  searching  light  as  sun-kissed  dew  is  clear, 
And  placed  it  in  the  hands  of  fond  affection, 
As  the  dead  centuries  have  resurrection ! 

Two  hunilile  little  barques  forever  more 
Outrank  the  stateliest  vessels  of  the  line, 
And  true  hearts  give  them  hail  from  every  shore 
Whereon  the  blessed  beams  of  P'reedom  shine: 
Lo,  there  the  May  P" lower,  like  the  ark  divine, 
New  England  guards  with  passionate  devotion ; 
With  kindling  eyes  she  claims  that  in  its  sign 
Right  wins  its  way  from  ocean  unto  ocean  — 
And  e'en  the  universe  retains  its  motion ! 

But  while  our  brethren  on  the  eastern  coast 

Extol  the  Pilgrim  barque  with  grand  acclaim. 

Clan  Hudson  voices  pledge  a  different  toast  — 

The  Dutch  Half  Moon  with  swelling  pride  they  name. 

Whose  light  on  history's  page  shall  never  wane ! 

Roll  back,  ye  ages,  to  that  morn  afar 

When  the  Grande  River  kissed  its  anchor  chain 

And  Freedom  cried,  her  western  gates  ajar, 

Behold  a  Half  Moon  is  my  Morning  Star ! 

Then  burst  the  sunlight  on  the  Hudson's  shores, — 

The  precious  torch  that  Heaven's  pathway  lights. 

The  precious  key  of  learning's  priceless  stores, 

The  precious  legacy  to  equal  rights. 

The  precious  chart  to  Freedom's  bracing  heights. 

The  golden  rule,  the  Lord's  supreme  command, 

That  every  plant  of  bigotry  but  blights, — 

These  were  the  boons  that  dropped  from  Holland's  hand 

When  the  Half  Moon  had  spied  our  goodly  land ! 

And  long  as  floats  the  Union's  ship  of  State, 

So  long  these  pilot  barques  shall  lead  the  way 

On  to  that  blissful  anchorage  of  fate 

Where  hope  to  full  fruition  yields  her  sway, 

'Neath  that  supernal  light  that  floods  the  perfect  day : 

Till  cold  the  heart  and  motionless  the  lip, 

Our  souls  shall  magnify  those  days  of  yore. 

We'll  not  forget  —  we'll  not  give  up  the  ship. 

Nor  love  the  May  Flower  less,  but  love  the  Half  Moon  more ! 

O,  Mayor  the  First,  that  in  these  scenes  would  mix 

For  justice  to  thine  own  to  fervent  sue. 

Return  in  peace  to  realms  beyond  the  Styx, 

We  also  to  the  pioneers  are  true, 

O,  fond  and  faithful  heart,  we  give  the  Dutch  their  due ! 


346 


IV. 

But,  Schuyler,  as  we  hold  the  ship,  we  pray  thee,  tell  us  true  — 
When  last  this  jubilee  was  kept,  had  then  the  Dutch  their  due? 
That  first  Centennial  of  the  town,  who  is  it  knows  its  story, 
From  age  to  age  where  gleams  the  page  o'er  which  it  trails  its  glory  ? 

The  Press  was  very  modest  then  and  left  a  thing  or  two 
Beneath  the  rose  —  the  bashful  rose  that  shuns  the  public  view ; 
So  when  the  Charter  feast  occurred,  the  scanty  record  teaches, 
No  paper  even  tried  to  print  the  after-dmner  speeches  ! 

We  know  the  grand  procession  formed  the  City  Hall  before, 
That  bells  were  rung  and  banners  hung  and  anthems  sung  galore, 
W^e  know  the  spirit  of  the  day,  we  know —  and  more's  the  pity  — 
That  sundry  spirits  of  the  day  were  summoned  by  the  city ! 

We  know  that  ere  the  shadows  fell  the  jocund  fathers  dined, 
But  further  annals  of  the  feast  we  vainly  seek  to  find ; — 
Who  was  the  chaplain  at  the  board,  and  did  it  boast  a  bard, 
And  what  the  gastronomic  gems  that  graced  the  menu  card  ? 

Who  made  the  most  alluring  speech  and  who  the  saddest  pun, 
What  local  chaff  provoked  a  laugh  and  what  the  gossip  spun  ?  — 
Ah,  bootless  is  the  tempting  quest;   the  children  may  not  know 
How  'twas  the  fathers  kept  the  Day,  one  hundred  years  ago. 

But  Fancy,  kindling  at  the  thought,  would  fain  the  scene  portray, 
Would  place  upon  the  present's  shrine  that  reminiscence  gay ; 
Across  the  chasm  of  the  past  would  stretch  her  magic  wire 
And  catch  the  echoes,  faint  and  far,  that  never  quite  expire  ! 

The  banquet  hall  was  plainly  dressed  —  they  did  not  dine  in  state  — 
Mayhap  a  Haarlem  tulip  lay  beside  each  feaster's  plate, 
And,  serving  as  a  centre-piece,  a  ship  in  sugar  done. 
With  Hendrick  Hudson  on  the  deck,  delighted  everyone. 

An  inkling  of  the  courses  served  we  hardly  hope  to  gain, 
We  know  they  relished  simple  food  and  drank  their  liquor  plain; 
We  know  they  loved  the  soothing  schnapps  and  safely  may  declare. 
Whatever  else  the  dinner  lacked,  the  olykoek  was  there ! 

The  feasting  o'er,  the  cloth  removed,  the  long-stemmed  pipes  were  lit^ 
Then  burst  the  floods  of  eloquence,  of  sentiment,  of  wit  — 
And  when  the  curfew  bell  was  heard,  its  pious  precepts  scorning. 
They  sang  in  jubilant  accord,  We  won't  go  home  till  morning ! 

The  burden  of  the  speeches  made  'tis  easy  to  surmise, 
George  Washington  they  toasted  first  and  praised  him  to  the  skies. 
And  when  they  heard  his  deeds  rehearsed  for  man's  undying  cause, 
They  made  that  ancient  tavern  ring  with  rapturous  applause. 

And  then  a  toast  extolled  The  State,  and  he  who  made  reply 
Fixed  on  that  babe  in  swaddling-clothes  a  prophet's  glowing  eye; 
He  knew  the  blood,  he  knew  the  nurse,  he  knew  what  prospects  smiled. 
And  so  foretold  she'd  ever  be  the  Nation's  favorite  child. 


347 


And  speaking  thus  he  raised  his  glass  and  uttered  Clinton's  name  — 
They  hailed  him  first  of  Governors,  and  gloried  in  his  fame ; 
They  felt  each  ruler  in  the  line  would  win  the  smile  of  God, 
If  but  he  followed  in  the  path  the  noble  Clinton  trod. 

And  then,  the  dearest  toast  of  all  was  summoned  to  the  fore  — 
With  cheer  on  cheer,  with  smile  and  tear,  with  clamorous  encore ; 
The  Mayor,  with  eyes  that  overflowed,  sprang  to  his  feet  to  say, 
"Now  is  the  flood-tide  of  the  feast — I  give  The  Charter  Day!  " 

At  which  arose  from  all  their  throats  so  long  and  loud  a  roar. 
The  startled  echoes  raised  their  voice  far  up  and  down  the  shore. 
Till  ancient  vrouws,  aroused  from  sleep,  exclaimed — the  simple  souls — 
That  Hendrick  Hudson's  phantom  crew  again  was  playing  bowls  ! 

The  gallant  son  that  made  response  was  but  a  modest  man. 
So  though  he  placed  the  little  town  in  all  the  ages'  van. 
He  spoke  in  such  impassioned  tones,  with  such  a  candid  air, 
That  those  that  hung  upon  his  words  were  sure  he  witnessed  fair. 

He  said  within  her  palisades  the  Nation  had  been  born. 

The  child  was  but  a  feeble  thing,  its  future  looked  forlorn. 

But  when  her  Court-House  ope'd  its  doors  to  greet  that  Congress  bold 

Then  on  his  fairest  prize  of  all  the  Lion  lost  his  hold ! 

He  said  that  when  the  war  cloud  burst,  with  loyalty  intense 

The  town  became  the  Nation's  hope,  its  rock  of  sure  defence ; 

'Twas  her's  to  hold  the  vital  gate  and  —  let  it  still  be  heard  — 

She  held  the  gate,  she  played  the  part  that  conquered  George  the  Third ! 

The  plaudits  of  the  table  rang  about  the  speaker's  ears. 
Those  that  had  fought  the  rash  Burgoyne  gave  nine  tremendous  cheers. 
While  all  declared  with  shake  of  head — why  should  they  not,  forsooth? — 
He  spoke  the  words  of  soberness,  of  plain  unvarnished  truth. 

Before  the  panegyrist  stopped  he  spread  before  their  eyes 
The  signs  of  promise  in  the  town,  of  growth  in  grand  emprise ; 
Indeed,  such  cheerful  local  signs  were  not  deceptive  tales. 
For  as  he  spoke  the  boast  went  round  of  semi-weekly  mails  ! 

Besides,  the  bellman,  strong  of  lungs,  whose  duty  'twas  to  tell, 

As  every  nightly  hour  struck,  if  all  went  ill  or  well. 

Declared  unless  the  city  checked  its  energetic  stride 

He  could  not  cover  all  the  ground  —  some  wards  must  go  uncried! 

The  streets  that  once  had  gone  unlit  the  cheerless  darkness  through 
Now  were  ablaze  with  fifty  lamps,  and  nine  of  them  were  new  ! 
While  bowing  to  that  giant  force,  the  Spirit  of  the  Age, 
They  shamed  the  lazy-gliding  sloop  with  lightning-rapid  —  stage. 

'Twas  thus  he  of  the  silver  tongue,  before  he  sat  him  down, 
Did  homage  pay  to  local  pride  and  glorify  the  town ; 
'Twas  thus  he  deepened  their  belief  that  on  from  age  to  age 
Their  home  should  be  what  then  it  was  —  a  goodly  heritage. 


348 


Then  joining  hands  about  the  lioard,  a  stout  and  loving  grip, 
They  toasted  Holland  and  the  Dutch,  and  hailed  their  patron  ship; 
They  called  to  mind  the  blessings  rich  that  followed  in  its  wake, 
And  vowed  the  things  for  which  it  stood  they  never  would  forsake. 

Such  was,  if  Fancy's  not  deceived,  one  hundred  years  ago 
The  dinner  of  the  Charter  Day  and  such  its  after-glow ; 
The  tale  cannot  be  verified  for  —  thus  the  record  teaches  — 
No  paper  even  tried  to  print  the  after-dinner  speeches  ! 

This  Charter  Day  another  strain  rings  out  — 

They  sang  the  seed,  we  sing  the  garnered  grain ; 
They  sang  by  faith  that  routed  every  doubt, 

We  sing  by  sight  —  each  hill  they  knew,  each  plain 

Is  vocal  with  our  Harvest  Home  refrain! 
But  O,  they  did  not  die  without  the  sight 

Of  the  rich  fruitage  it  is  ours  to  gain ; 
They  saw  it  all  on  many  a  vision's  height, 
And  so  took  heart,  nor  faltered  in  their  fight. 

But  fate  to  us,  e'en  as  it  did  to  them. 

Beckons  ahead  to  duties  manifold ; 
Nor  might  we  dare  to  touch  their  memory's  hem. 

If  with  a  consistancy  less  true  and  bold 

We  strove  to  hasten  on  the  age  of  gold ; 
That  age  of  gold,  dispelling  error's  night. 

When  ignorance  shall  be  a  tale  that's  told. 
When  pale  tlie  lower  lamps  in  Heaven's  light 
And  Right  shall  rule  and  be  the  only  Might. 

Nor  shall  the  fathers  smite  us  with  their  scorn 

Because  of  ancient  landmarks  now  no  more ; 
Because  when  progress  blew  her  magic  horn 

The  town  renounced  its  walls  ;   and  from  the  shore 

Fort  Orange  crunililed ;  and  the  tavern  door 
That  o]ie'd  to  Washington  and  hence  to  fame 

Became  unhinged  ;   and  curfew  time  was  o'er ; 
And  on  the  hill  —  where  hides  thy  blush,  O  shame! 
The  old-time  Market  bides  but  in  its  name. 

But  there  are  landmarks  of  suj^remest  worth  — 

Seen  of  the  soul,  Init  not  l)y  mortal  eye. 
And  should  they  ever  perish  from  the  earth 

Then,  though  upon  her  hills  exalted  high, 

This  city  of  our  hearts  shall  surely  die ; 
The  courage  calm  that  any  fate  defied, 

The  civic  fealty  no  bribe  could  buy. 
The  sturdy  faith  in  God  as  guard  and  guide  — 
O,  may  such  ancient  landmarks  e'er  abide! 

They  shall  abide —  long  as  the  Hudson  rolls  ! 

For  though  beneath  the  sod  the  old  guard  rests, 
Yet  still  each  hero  broods  above  the  souls 

That  glow  within  the  children's  loving  breasts, 

349 


Thus  sons  of  God  in  every  age  and  clime 

The  grave  defied,  still  makes  a  noble  quest, 
Though  dead  they  speak,  their  counsels  seem  sublime, 
They  conquer  Death,  they  triumph  over  Time ! 

They  shall  abide  —  O,  Schuyler,  hear  our  vow 

And  may  it  win  us  favor  in  thine  eyes, — 
Thou  loyal  ghost,  we  pray  thee  tell  us  now 

What  thoughts  within  thy  swelling  bosom  rise 

As  thou  this  Charter  Day  dost  scrutinize ; — 
And  Schuyler,  like  some  watchman  by  his  bell 
Who  from  a  lookout  tower  Time's  passage  cries, 
Responds  in  accents  that  of  rapture  tell. 
Two  by  the  century'' s  clock,  and  all  is  7uell ! 

As  the  applause  subsided,  the  vocal  societies  again 
ranged  themselves  before  the  platform  and  the 
orchestra  began  the  undulatory  preface  to  Mr.  George 
Edgar  Oliver's  impressive  setting  of  Bishop  Doane's 
Bi-centennial  ode.  The  ode  was  rendered  with  mag- 
nificent effect  and  was  rapturously  received.  The 
event  of  the  programme,  the  historical  oration  of 
Governor  Hill,  had  been  awaited  with  interest.  As 
he  stepped  forward  handkerchiefs  fluttered  in  the  air, 
cheers  rang  out,  and  the  band  struck  up  "  Hail  to  the 
Chief,"  as  it  had  on  the  entrance  of  President  Cleve- 
land. 

The  Oration 

Fellow-citizens  :  The  traveler  upon  the  ocean,  ap- 
proaching the  magnificent  harbor  of  New  York,  instinctively 
turns  his  eye  northward  toward  the  beautiful  waters  of  the 
picturesque  Hudson. 

Passing  in  his  view  the  grand  and  imposing  Palisades, 
thence  along  the  majestic  barriers  of  West  Point  and  under 
the  deep  shadow  of  the  Storm  King,  and  still  to  the  north- 
ward, beyond  the  hne  of  the  lofty  Catskills,  he  beholds  in 
the  distance  the  craggy  and  precipitous  Helderbergs,  and 
seemingly  hovering  at  their  feet,  although  really  far  removed 
from  their  base,  there  appear,  emerging  close  by  the  west 
bank  of  the  Hudson,  surrounded  on  every  side  by  beautiful 

350 


and  commanding  scenery,  the  three  broad  and  spacious  hills 
upon  which  the  city  of  Albany  is  so  grandly  built. 

It  was  here,  upon  this  romantic  spot,  originally  called  by 
the  euphonious  name  of  "Aurania,"  that  your  Dutch  fore- 
fathers settled  with  their  families  and  planted  the  germs  of 
civilization,  nearly  three  hundred  years  ago.  Here,  by  the 
side  of  this  "  inlet  of  the  sea,"  in  the  interior  of  a  vast 
wilderness,  yet  where  the  tide  of  the  great  ocean  ebbed  and 
flowed,  the  heroic  yeomanry  of  Holland  came  to  this  country 
and  laid  the  foundation  of  the  New  Netherlands. 

It  was  as  early  as  1609,  nearly  a  dozen  years  before  the 
Mayflower  landed  at  Plymouth,  that  Hendrick  Hudson  in 
his  Dutch  vessel,  the  "  Half  Moon,"  sailed  into  the  mouth 
of  the  noble  river  which  now  bears  his  name,  and  landed  at 
this  historic  spot.  It  was  not,  however,  until  a  few  years 
later,  the  precise  date  of  which  is  uncertain,  that  any  distinct 
settlement  appeared  at  this  point,  but  it  is  claimed  that  it  is 
the  most  ancient  existing  settlement  in  the  original  thirteen 
colonies.  What  wonderful  changes  have  since  been 
wrought !  The  rude  hamlet  of  Aurania  has  prospered  and 
grown  until  it  is  to-day  the  imperial  capital  of  the  greatest 
State  in  the  Union  —  a  city  containing  a  population  of  over 
a  hundred  thousand  inhabitants,  who  proudly  claim  the  honor 
of  its  citizenship. 

History  informs  us  that  the  emigrants  from  Holland  were 
themselves  of  the  most  various  lineage,  for  Holland  had  long 
been  the  gathering  place  of  the  unfortunate  of  other  lands. 
It  is  said,  that  could  we  trace  the  descent  of  the  emigrants 
from  the  Low  Countries  to  New  Netherlands,  we  should  be 
carried,  not  only  to  the  banks  of  the  Rhine  and  the  borders 
of  the  German  Sea,  but  to  the  martyrs  who  escaped  from 
France  by  reason  of  religious  persecution,  and  to  those 
earHer  inquirers  who  were  swayed  by  the  voice  of  Huss  in 
the  heart  of  Bohemia.  It  is  claimed  by  a  very  respectable 
historical  authority,  that  a  large  number  of  the  first  settlers 
of  Albany  were  Walloons  —  French  people  — but  this  claim 
may  not  be  well  founded.  Nevertheless,  it  is  true  that  New 
York  was  always  peculiarly  cosmopolitan  in  its  character. 
Its  settlers  came  from  every  clime  and  every  land,  and  there 
were  among  them  relics  of  the  first  fruits  of  the  Reformation 
chosen  from  the  Belgic  provinces  and  England,  from  France 
and  Bohemia,  from  Germany  and  Switzerland,  from  Pied- 
mont and  the  ItaUan  Alps. 

351 


Resistance  to  wrong,  oppression  and  persecution  accus- 
tomed this  people  to  seek  the  blessings  of  religious  and 
political  freedom  wherever  such  freedom  could  be  found. 
They  zealously  preferred  national  libery  to  the  demands  of 
arbitrary  power;  and  their  experience  of  intolerance  had 
made  them  liberal  in  thought  and  action,  and  paved  the  way 
for  their  own  and  their  decendants'  subsequent  efforts  in 
behalf  of  independence  and  a  free  and  representative  form 
of  government  to  which  they  were  early  instinctively  inclined. 

A  learned  writer  has  thoughtfully  said :  "  In  the  deepest 
and  widest  sense  our  American  history  does  not  begin  with 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  or  even  with  the  settle- 
ment of  Jamestown  and  Plymouth,  but  it  descends  in 
unbroken  continuity  from  the  days  when  stout  Arminius, 
in  the  forests  of  northern  Germany,  defied  the  might  of 
imperial  Rome." 

Such  was  the  history  and  such  were  the  characteristics  of 
those  who  became  the  early  settlers  of  this  city. 

WHAT    THE    DUTCH    BROUGHT. 

The  eloquent  Storrs  has  pertinently  said  that  the  Dutch 
brought  to  this  country  "  the  patience,  the  enterprise  and  the 
courage,  the  indomitable  spirit  and  the  hatred  of  tyranny, 
into  which  they  had  been  born,  into  which  their  nation  had 
been  baptized  with  blood.  Education  came  with  them  ; 
the  free  schools,  in  which  Holland  had  led  the  van  of  the 
world,  being  early  transplanted  to  these  shores.  *  *  * 
An  energetic  Christian  faith  came  with  them,  with  its  bibles, 
its  ministers,  its  interpreting  books,"  They  brought  with 
them  their  virtues  and  their  vices,  their  thrift  and  their 
lethargy,  and  all  their  social  tendencies  and  national 
peculiarities. 

A  critical  and  amusing  historian  wrote,  many  years  ago 
concerning  the  appearance  of  this  place :  "Albany  was 
indeed  Dutch,  in  all  its  moods  and  tenses  —  thoroughly  and 
inveterately  Dutch.  The  buildings  were  Dutch  —  Dutch  in 
style,  in  position,  attitude  and  aspect.  The  people  were 
Dutch,  the  horses  were  Dutch,  and  even  the  dogs  were 
Dutch.  If  any  confirmation  were  wanting  as  to  the  origin 
and  character  of  the  place,  it  might  be  found  in  the  old 
Dutch  church,  which  was  itself  always  to  be  found  in  the 
middle  of  State  street,  looking  as  if  it  had  been  wheeled 
out  of  line  by  the  giants  of  old,  and  there  left ;  or  had  been 

352 


dropped  down  from  the  clouds  in  a  dark  night,  and  had 
stuck  fast  where  it  fell." 

It  may  have  been  because  Albany  and  the  other  towns 
upon  the  Hudson  river,  which  were  settled  by  the  Dutch 
emigrants,  so  much  resembled  places  in  northern  Germany 
that  the  Hudson  has  sometimes  been  called  the  "Rhine  of 
America,"  although  usually  other  reasons  are  given  for  the 
appellation. 

The  spot  where  this  city  stands  was,  as  before  stated, 
originally  called  Aurania;  then  Beverwyck  until  1625  ;  then 
Fort  Orange  until  1647,  and  Williamstadt  until  1664,  and 
then  called  by  its  present  pleasant  name  of  Albany,  in  honor 
of  the  Duke  of  York  and  of  Albany. 

RELATIONS    TO    THE    STATE. 

In  a  young  nation  like  ours,  a  city  whose  chartered  privi- 
leges and  immunities  have  existed  through  two  centuries, 
with  all  the  historic  memories  gathered  around  it,  is  so 
uncommon  that  the  approach  of  its  Bi-centennial  Day  is  an 
event  of  great  magnitude.  It  is  impossible  to  recall  the 
associations  which  center  about  such  an  event,  without  deep 
and  solemn,  yet  pleasing  recollections,  for  with  such  recol- 
lections one  generation  speaks  its  thoughts,  feelings  and 
hopes  to  another.  The  citizens  of  Albany,  have,  therefore, 
appropriately  set  apart  this  day  and  week  for  mutual  con- 
gratulations over  the  success  and  prosperity  of  their  city 
through  a  period  of  two  hundred  years,  the  close  of  which  is 
reached  to-day.  Not  for  mutual  congratulations  alone,  but 
for  congratulations  with  the  great  State  of  which  the  city 
has  so  long  been  the  capital ;  so  long  been  the  center  of  its 
executive,  legislative  and  judicial  system.  Not  only  this, 
but  the  people  extend  congratulations  to  the  great  Republic 
itself,  with  which  this  city  has  always  co-operated  in  loyalty 
and  faith  in  advancing  the  cause  of  national  prosperity. 

We  are  celebrating  the  primal  existence  of  this  city,  bom 
from  a  charter  granted  by  the  sovereignty  of  England,  a 
sovereignty  to  which  the  city  owed  and  gave  allegiance  for 
nearly  one  hundred  years.  The  city  thus  created  has  out- 
lived the  perils  and  dangers  of  its  situation  on  the  confines 
of  civilization,  the  attack  of  savage  foes,  the  wars  with  the 
French  and  their  Indian  allies,  the  fearful  trials  of  the  Revo- 
lution, the  bitter  internal  strifes  of  the  turbulent  tory 
element,  the  dangers  arising  from  a  loose  confederation  and 

353 


the  contention  of  partisan  zealots.  It  has  continued  through 
all  this  time  and  through  all  these  events,  fortunate  in  the 
natural  favor  of  its  situation  on  the  bank  of  the  most  beauti- 
ful and  most  historic  river  in  the  nation,  sometimes  called 
"the  River  of  the  Mountains;"  fortunate  in  the  intelligence, 
cultivation  and  enterprise  of  its  citizens ;  fortunate  in  its 
municipal,  religious  and  educational  advantages.  Banners, 
and  badges,  music,  civic  processions,  and  the  parade  of 
accomplished  citizen  soldiery  are  fitting  accompaniments  to 
the  occasion.  Thus,  in  the  midst  of  so  much  diffused  wealth, 
so  much  happiness  and  comfort,  so  much  general  indepen- 
dence and  under  so  many  blessings,  we  indulge  in  gratifying 
recollections  of  the  past,  in  pleasing  thoughts  of  the  pros- 
perity of  the  present  and  so  many  glorious  hopes  for  the 
future. 

Two  hundred  years  ago  Albany  was  the  scene  of  an  event 
the  importance  of  which  has  called  this  immense  concourse 
together  to-day.  That  event  was  the  birth  of  this  city.  The 
happy  citizens  who  then  gathered  together,  were  colonists, 
subjects  of  a  British  monarch,  and  they  were  a  people  of 
education  and  refinement.  They  had  brought  with  them 
the  civilization,  the  arts,  sciences  and  education  of  England 
and  of  Holland ;  accomplished  men  of  business,  scholars, 
jurists,  learned  and  pious  ministers  of  the  gospel,  the  artist, 
the  artisan,  and  the  honest  laborer  came  here  from  the  Old 
World  to  make  these  hills  their  home.  They  brought  with 
with  them  the  fundamental  principles  of  jurisprudence  — 
that  jurisprudence  which  was  afterwards  enlarged  and  liber- 
alized by  a  popular  and  repubhcan  form  of  government. 

CHARACTER    OF    GOVERNOR    DONGAN. 

As  has  well  been  said  :  "  The  colonists  had  escaped  from 
the  existing  political  systems  of  Europe,  but  they  continued 
in  the  enjoyment  of  its  sciences  and  arts,  equality  of  rights, 
a  representative  system,  free  government  founded  on  popu- 
lar representation,  and  a  general  freedom  of  religious  opinion 
and  worship.  For  they  brought  with  them  the  Bible,  Bacon, 
Locke,  Milton  and  Shakespeare;  they  came,  not  only  to 
form  new  political  systems,  but  all  other  institutions  that 
belong  to  cultivated  man." 

These  were  the  people  to  whom  Thomas  Dongan,  in 
1686,  granted  that  charter  which  made  Albany  a  city.  And 
who  was  Thomas  Dongan  ?     His  name  is  to-day  upon  every 

354 


lip.  All  that  concerns  his  character  and  life  is  eagerly  sought 
after  by  the  inquiring  multitude  who  throng  these  streets. 
You  have  recently,  and  with  great  propriety,  organized  in 
this  city  a  social  club  in  his  honor  and  which  bears  his  name. 
It  is  meet  and  proper  that  I  say  a  few  words  regarding  one 
whose  history  is  so  intimately  connected  with  the  antecedents 
of  this  place.  Of  all  the  English  colonial  governors  he  was 
the  best  and  ablest ;  he  possessed  discretion  which  seldom 
permitted  a  mistake ;  an  integrity  which  always  looked  to 
the  good  of  the  colonists  over  whom  he  ruled;  a  firmness  of 
purpose  that  rarely  failed,  and  which  yielded  to  no  obstacle 
or  reverses.  He  began  his  career  in  life  as  a  soldier ;  he 
rose  to  high  official  rank  in  the  army,  and  after  distinguish- 
ing himself  he  retired,  becoming  a  civilian  and  legist, 
winning  the  confidence  of  Charles  II.  and  his  brother,  the 
Duke  of  York,  who  found  in  him  those  executive  abilities 
which  especially  qualified  him  to  govern  their  province  of 
New  York,  as  the  successor  of  Edward  Andros.  Duly  com- 
missioned for  his  high  office,  Dongan  landed  in  New  York 
City  in  1682,  where  he  was  received  with  every  demonstra- 
tion of  popular  favor. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  his  administration  was  to  grant  the 
prayer  of  the  citizens  of  the  city  for  a  general  and  popular 
assembly  or  convention.  This  convention,  consisting  of 
representatives  from  different  parts  of  the  colony,  convened 
at  Hempstead,  in  1683.  This  was  really  the  first  representa- 
tive body  of  the  colony  of  New  York,  although  other  bodies 
assuming  to  be  popular  in  their  character  had  assembled. 
The  popular  nature  of  this  assemblage  at  Hempstead  is 
better  known  by  its  acts.  It  passed  an  act  of  general  natu- 
ralization, the  first  important  step  toward  American  citizen- 
ship ;  an  act  declaring  the  liberties  of  the  people  ;  an  act 
establishing  a  bill  of  rights  ;  an  act  defraying  the  expenses 
of  the  colonial  government ;  an  act  for  regulating  the  inter- 
nal affairs  of  the  province,  and  special  acts  for  the  better 
protection  of  Albany.  This  town  or  burgh  was  represented 
in  this  convention  by  citizens  whose  ability,  public  spirit  and 
influence  enabled  them  then  and  there  to  take  the  initial 
step  for  obtaining  that  charter  which  three  years  later  was 
fully  granted.  They  did  more  than  this  —  they  succeeded 
in  interesting  the  new  Governor  largely  in  the  affairs  of  their 
village,  an  interest  which  increased  as  time  went  on. 

At  this  time  James,  Duke  of  York  and  Albany,  was  the 


355 


proprietor,  under  favor  of  his  royal  brother,  Charles  II  ,  of 
that  vast  territory  known  as  the  Province  of  New  York,  a 
name  derived  from  its  princely  proprietor.  The  critical 
state  of  affairs  of  that  part  of  the  colony  in  which  Albany 
was  situated,  with  the  French  and  Indians,  called  in  requisi- 
tion every  executive  ability  of  Governor  Uongan,  and  they 
proved  amply  effective  in  coping  with  the  deep,  designing 
and  cruel  diplomacy  of  the  French  government  in  the 
Canadas,  and  he  found  it  necessary  to  make  Albany,  in  a 
large  degree,  the  seat  of  government  in  the  province,  where 
he  often  came  in  the  discharge  of  his  executive  duties.  In 
September,  1683,  he  made  his  first  visit  here,  where  he  met 
in  council  the  citizens  and  listened  favorably  to  their  requests 
for  executive  co-operation.  In  August,  1685,  Governor 
Dongan  presided  at  the  great  convention  held  here,  which 
was  attended  by  delegates  from  most  of  the  Indian  tribes 
from  Virginia  to  Lake  Ontario. 

JUST    DEALINGS    WITH    THE    INDIANS. 

In  August,  1687,  he  met  the  Iroquois  in  convention  at 
Albany,  and  soon  after  this  he  established  his  executive  resi- 
dence here,  where  he  remained  till  June,  1688.  This  step 
became  necessary  by  the  deep-plotted  blow  by  which  the 
French  threatened  the  English  interests  in  North  America. 
This  dangerous  policy  of  the  French  was  to  be  executed  by 
the  bold,  sagacious  and  accomplished  soldier  and  civilian, 
De  Nouville,  who,  at  the  time  of  Dongan's  arrival  in  Albany, 
had,  with  a  large  French  and  Indian  army,  invaded  the 
country  of  the  Senecas,  one  of  the  confederate  tribes  of  the 
Five  Nations,  who  were  friends  of  the  English.  But  Don- 
gan's vigorous  war  policy,  inaugurated  at  Albany,  checked 
the  career  of  De  Nouville,  and  rescued  the  province  from 
the  threatened  dangers  of  his  invasion. 

The  distinguishing  feature  of  the  conduct  of  the  early 
settlers  of  the  Colony  of  New  York,  and  particularly  those 
residing  in  this  vicinity,  in  all  their  transactions  with  the 
Indians,  was  the  endeavor  to  deal  justly  with  them,  to  respect 
their  rights,  to  recognize  their  title  to  the  soil,  and  to  acquire 
their  property  only  after  fair  negotiation  and  liberal  treat- 
ment. This  honorable  method  of  procedure  made  the 
Indians  their  friends,  and  to  a  great  extent  rendered  them 
most  serviceable  and  faithful  allies  in  all  the  colonists'  con- 
tests with  their  enemies.     In  many  instances  the  colonists  of 

356 


New  England  seemed  to  pursue  a  different  course,  and  not 
only  lost  the  support,  but  brought  upon  themselves  the  active 
opposition  and  hostility  of  the  red  men  of  that  section,  and 
cost  the  people  much  treasure  and  thousands  of  valuable 
lives. 

Albany  was  the  scene  of  another  convention  of  the 
province,  which  assembled  in  August,  1689.  In  the  con- 
vention which  assembled  in  1683,  attended  by  delegates 
from  all  the  tribes  forming  the  Five  Nations  and  delegates 
from  the  white  settlers  along  the  Mohawk  and  other  parts 
of  the  province,  the  delegates  from  the  Five  Nations  desig- 
nated Albany  as  "  their  covenant  house,  which  was  always 
to  be  open  and  kept  clean." 

FIRST    IDEA    OF    AN     AMERICAN    UNION. 

It  is  thus  seen  that  Albany  became  a  representative  centre 
or  capital  at  this  early  period  in  her  history ;  and  so  it  con- 
tinued, by  the  frequent  representative  conventions  held  here 
up  to  the  very  time  of  the  Revolution.  Here,  in  1754,  was 
held  a  convention  of  delegates  from  New  Hampshire,  Mass- 
achusetts, Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  Maryland  and  New 
York.  Bancroft  says :  "America  has  never  seen  an  assembly 
so  venerable  for  the  States  that  were  represented  or  for  the 
great  and  able  men  who  composed  it.  Every  voice  declared 
a  union  of  all  the  colonies  to  be  absolutely  necessary." 

This  convention  was  perhaps  the  first  step  toward  a  scheme 
for  the  common  defense.  A  plan  for  a  poHtical  union  was 
drawn  by  Benjamin  Franklin  on  the  fourth  of  July,  1754, 
but  it  met  with  the  singular  misfortune  of  being  rejected  by 
the  provincial  assemblies  because  it  gave  too  much  power  to 
the  crown,  and  rejected  by  the  crown  because  it  gave  too 
much  power  to  the  people.  But  it  gave  to  Albany  the 
distinguished  honor  of  being  the  place  where  the  first  steps 
toward  a  Federal  Union  were  taken. 

THE    FAMOUS    CHARTER. 

It  was  unfortunate  that  after  the  accession  of  James  to  the 
throne,  though  he  renewed  Dongan's  commission,  he 
annulled  all  the  privileges  he  had  granted  the  province  under 
the  convention  of  1683,  promulgating  an  order  to  Dongan 
to  suffer  no  printing  press  in  the  province.  But  Albany 
received  its  charter  July  22,  1686,  through  Dongan's  friend- 
ship  and  influence  with  the  crown,  and  the  distinguished 

357 


honors  shown  the  name  of  Governor  Thomas  Dongan  in 
this  great  celebration  are  fitting  tributes  to  his  abilities,  his 
successful  administration  and  his  unswerving  friendship  and 
kindly  acts  to  this  city  in  its  infancy.  That  charter,  obtained 
through  his  influence,  is  drawn  with  all  the  care,  precision 
and  legal  learning  of  that  age.  Fac  similes  of  this  singu- 
larly beneficent  instrument  are  to  be  seen  everywhere  in  the 
city.  An  inspection  of  that  charter  shows  how  fully  it  pro- 
tected the  interests  of  the  citizens  of  Albany,  and,  though 
it  originated  in  royal  power,  it  in  no  way  deprived  them  of 
their  privileges,  liberties,  franchises,  royalties,  free  customs 
and  immunities.  Though  written  two  hundred  years  ago,  in 
the  quaint  language  of  the  times,  it  is  appropriate  to  our  own 
age,  and  we  turn  to  it  with  feelings  of  profound  veneration 
and  respect.  It  is  a  grand  instrument  of  antiquity  which 
has  come  down  from  the  past  to  form  a  most  interesting 
feature  in  this  celebration.  It  contains  provisions  known  to 
few,  if  any,  of  the  royal  charters  granted  to  colonial  towns. 
There  was  conferred  in  it  the  right  to  purchase  from  the  In- 
dians large  tracts  of  land  to  be  held  as  the  property  of  the 
Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  city.  It  also 
granted  to  the  city  certain  other  large  tracts  of  land  which 
were  sources  of  revenue  to  the  city,  and  were  held  by  it  till 
they  formed  the  basis  of  that  famous  lottery  of  Yates  and 
Mclntyre,  which  subsequently  became  so  important  a  matter 
in  the  history  of  the  State,  and  to-day  the  city  owns  parcels 
of  land  the  title  to  which  was  derived  from  the  Dongan 
charter.  The  importance  of  this  charter  is  signified  in  the 
extent  of  the  territory  which  comprised  the  city.  Its  limits 
were  one  mile  north  and  south  on  the  Hudson,  and  sixteen 
miler  in  a  north-west  direction. 

Schuyler's  resistance  of  leisler. 

The  character  of  the  ancient  burghers  is  well  illustrated  in 
their  treatment  of  Jacob  Leisler,  when  that  stout-hearted  but 
wrong-headed  individual  assumed  to  himself  the  government 
of  the  Province  of  New  York.  Leisler  was  a  strange  mix- 
ture of  Oliver  Cromwell  and  Captain  Kidd.  He  had  all 
the  religious  zeal  and  ambition  after  power  which  distin- 
guished the  former,  while  his  boldness  of  action  and  his 
disregard  for  methods  were  Kidd's  very  best  designs. 

When  James  II.  retired,  and  William  and  Mary  came 
upon  the  throne,  the  colonies  were  in  much  confusion  over 

358 


the  change.  New  York  was  left  without  any  governing  head 
other  than  a  sort  of  executive  council.  It  was  the  opportu- 
nity for  an  ambitious  man  who  could  take  a  chance.  Leisler, 
who  had  hitherto  been  known  as  a  successful  merchant  and 
a  captain  of  militia,  took  possession  of  the  government. 
Albany,  alone  of  all  the  province,  refused  to  acknowledge 
him.  He  sent  his  son-in-law,  Milbourne,  to  this  city  and 
demanded  his  recognition  of  his  authority,  even  declaring 
that  this  old  charter  of  yours,  which  you  guard  with  so  much 
tenderness,  was  illegal,  null  and  void.  Peter  Schuyler,  your 
first  Mayor,  was  as  determined  as  Leisler,  and  had  the  guns 
and  barricade  of  a  fort  to  help  him  in  his  resistance,  and 
compelled  Milbourne's  retirement.  Afterward,  when  your 
sister  city,  Schenectady,  was  burned  by  Frontenac's  forces,  a 
sort  of  truce  was  patched  up  with  the  strong-willed  Dutch- 
man, but,  while  the  rest  of  the  province  always  humbled 
itself  to  him,  and  employed  terms  of  the  highest  regard, 
addressing  him  as  "  His  Excellency  "  and  "  Their  Majesties' 
Lieutenant,"  the  Albanians  prided  themselves  on  always 
calling  him  in  their  public  communications,  as  well  as  in 
their  private  conversation,  "  Captain  Jacob  Leisler."  When, 
as  time  rolled  on,  the  wheel  had  completed  its  revolution, 
and  Albany  was  on  top  and  Leisler  underneath,  the  burghers 
enjoyed  a  pleasure  which  has  never  since  been  afforded 
them,  and  that  was  the  execution,  for  high  crime  and  mis- 
demeanor, of  the  Chief  Executive  of  the  Province.  I  have 
no  doubt  this  terrible  fate  which  came  upon  Jacob  Leisler — 
whatever  the  formidable  document  which  constituted  his 
death  warrant  may  have  called  it  —  was  in  reality  due  to  his 
attitude  of  hostility  to  the  Albanians,  and  it  certainly  is  true 
that  since  that  time  no  Executive  of  this  State  has  ever  dared 
to  put  himself  in  a  position  of  antagonism  to  the  inhabitants 
of  the  place  that  Washington  styled  "  this  ancient  and  respect- 
able town." 

THE    END    OF   THE    FIRST    CENTURY. 

A  hundred  years  of  the  city's  existence  was  completed  in 
1786,  and  the  anniversary  was  appropriately  celebrated. 
The  Revolutionary  war  had  "but  recently  closed,  and  the 
Dongan  City  Charter,  modified  in  a  few  essential  particulars, 
was  still  the  fundamental  law  of  the  city.  At  the  beginning 
of  the  struggle  for  independence,  the  clarion  voice  of  liberty, 
which  resounded  over  the  colonies,  had  little  effect  on  the 

359 


people  of  Albany.  The  tory  element  in  the  city  was  large, 
and  for  a  time  held  the  balance  of  power ;  but  the  news  of 
the  conflicts  at  Concord  and  Bunker  Hill  soon  reached  it, 
and  then  the  voice  of  toryism  was  silenced,  and  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence,  subsequently  read  from  a  historic 
spot  in  the  city,  was  hailed  with  loud  and  prolonged  applause 
by  the  assembled  people. 

Historians  have  told  us  of  the  sufferings  and  privations  of 
the  people  of  Albany  during  the  struggle  for  independence. 
To  the  north  and  north-west,  and  up  the  Mohawk  River,  all 
the  horrors  of  border  and  terrible  civil  warfare  raged,  ren- 
dering the  city  a  scene  of  terror.  The  city  suffered  greatly. 
If  it  was  not  a  decisive  battle  ground,  if  it  was  not  devastated 
by  the  march  of  opposing  armies,  or  cannonaded  by  the 
enemy,  it  was  in  constant  danger  of  many  of  these  fearful 
visitations.  The  roar  of  Burgoyne's  cannon  from  Saratoga, 
answered  by  the  guns  of  the  Continentals,  reverberated  over 
it;  while  the  citizens  knew  the  fleet  of  Sir  William  Howe 
and  his  army  were  endeavoring  to  make  their  way  up  the 
Hudson  to  fall  upon  them  from  the  south. 

The  position  of  Albany  rendered  it  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant points  in  the  struggle.  Situated  almost  midway  in 
the  territory,  which  by  the  great  plan  of  the  British  generals 
to  crush  the  rebellion — as  they  termed  the  patriotic  cause 
—  was  to  be  swept  by  Burgoyne  from  the  north  and  Howe 
from  the  south,  whose  armies  were  to  unite  at  Albany,  it 
became  a  great  strategic  point,  made  so  by  its  geographical 
position.  For  not  dissimilar  reasons  it  afterwards  became  a 
political  and  governmental  center. 

A    STRATEGIC     POINT. 

The  importance  of  Albany's  position  to  the  State  and 
Nation  is  illustrated  by  an  incident  connected  with  the 
soldierly  foresight  and  discernment  of  General  Winfield 
Scott.  He  was  once  riding  with  a  distinguished  citizen  of 
the  State  from  Sharon  Springs  to  Cherry  Valley,  by  the 
route  known  as  the  Ridge  road,  twelve  hundred  feet  above 
tide  water,  which  overlooks  to  the  north,  to  the  east  and  to 
the  west,  regions  below  embracing  the  confluence  of  the 
Hudson  and  the  Mohawk.  As  they  were  gazing  in  admira- 
tion upon  this  magnificent  view,  stretching  over  into  Ver- 
mont and  Massachusetts,  General  Scott  exclaimed,  as  he 
pointed  in  the  direction  where  the   two  rivers  approached 

360 


each  other:  "There  is  the  grand  strategic  point  of  the 
American  continent,  and  Albany  is  next  in  importance. 
An  invading  army  that  could  take  and  hold  those  points 
could  dictate  terms  to  the  Republic."  On  one  of  General 
Grant's  visits  to  Albany  this  point  was  shown  him,  and 
General  Scott's  remarks  related  to  him.  After  reflecting  a 
few  moments  he  replied,  with  his  characteristic  brevity: 
"  Yes,  General  Scott  was  right." 

"  It  was,"  said  Governor  Seymour,  in  his  centennial 
address  at  Schuylerville,  "  the  design  of  the  British  govern- 
ment in  the  campaign  of  1777  to  capture  the  center  and 
stronghold  of  this  commanding  system  of  mountains  and 
valleys.  It  aimed  at  its  very  heart  —  the  confluence  of  the 
Hudson  and  the  Mohawk.  The  fleets,  the  armies  and  the 
savage  allies  of  Britain  were  to  follow  their  converging  lines 
to  Albany,  and  there  strike  the  decisive  blow." 

The  importance  of  Albany  during  the  Revolution  was 
fully  understood  by  the  British  ministry  ;  carefully  drawn 
views  of  the  interior  and  exterior  of  old  Fort  Frederick, 
whose  guns  swept  the  river  and  the  surrounding  country, 
were  seen  in  London  and  Paris,  and  were  carefully  studied 
by  engineers  and  soldiers.  Its  proximity  to  the  great 
strategic  point  described  caused  them,  as  well  as  Washington 
and  his  generals,  to  watch  the  movements  of  Burgoyne  and 
his  powerful  army  with  the  most  intense  interest.  Sherman's 
march  to  the  sea,  in  the  late  Rebellion,  did  not,  in  the 
beginning,  promise  more  favorable  or  decisive  results  to  the 
Union  cause  than  did  the  invasion  of  Burgoyne  to  the  cause 
of  Britain  in  the  Revolution.  The  progress  of  the  British 
ships  up  the  Hudson  to  a  point  east  of  the  Allegany  range, 
the  capture  and  burning  of  Kingston,  where  the  British 
admiral  awaited  communication  from  Burgoyne,  are  events 
familiar  to  the  readers  of  history.  There  were  those  in 
Albany  at  that  time  who  knew  full  well  that  the  cause  of  free- 
dom was  suspended  in  a  balance.  They  knew  if  Howe  pushed 
rapidly  to  Albany  he  would  soon  unite  with  Burgoyne,  and 
the  American  commander  would  be  forced  to  retreat  to 
New  England,  if  he  escaped  the  powerful  combination 
against  him.  But  for  some  cause  Howe  delayed,  and  his 
delay  was  fatal  to  Burgoyne,  and  his  troops  were  marched 
prisoners  of  war  through  Albany,  and  himself  also  became 
a  prisoner  of  war  in  one  of  the  mansions  of  the  city,  whose 


361 


old  walls  saw  this  proud  commander  a  prisoner-guest  of  one 
of  Albany's  most  illustrious  citizen-soldiers. 

HONOR   TO    PHILIP    SCHUYLER. 

The  central  figure  of  the  Albany  heroes  of  the  Revolution 
was  General  Philip  Schuyler.  He  was  one  of  the  ablest 
and  most  distinguished  of  the  officers  who  served  the  patriot 
cause,  and  impartial  history  concedes  the  fact  that  it  was 
under  his  generalship  that  the  plans  were  matured  and  the 
movements  conceived  which  subsequently  led  to  the  victory 
of  Saratoga ;  deprived  of  the  honor  of  actually  participating 
in  that  memorable  and  decisive  engagement,  by  the  unwise 
action  of  Congress  in  removing  him  from  his  command 
shortly  before  that  battle,  he,  nevertheless,  did  not  permit 
the  personal  wrong  to  himself  to  swerve  his  loyalty  to  the 
American  cause.  While  Gates  was  the  immediate  commander 
under  whom  the  contest  was  fought,  the  glory  belonged,  in 
reality,  greatly  to  Schuyler.  His  is  not  the  only  instance  in 
history  where  the  laurels  of  one  commander,  who  had 
patiently  disciplined  his  army,  formulated  his  campaign,  and 
planned  his  victory,  have  been  snatched  from  him  by  another, 
who,  at  the  eleventh  hour,  was  put  in  command,  and,  by  the 
fortunes  of  war,  was  enabled  to  reap  what  the  former  had 
sown. 

Military  reputation  is  fickle  at  the  best,  but,  notwithstand- 
ing the  ill-fortune  that  overtook  the  gallant  Schuyler  on  the 
eve  of  his  greatest  triumph,  he  maintained  the  confidence  — 
if  not  of  Congress  —  at  least  of  the  people  of  the  country 
and  the  warm  friendship  of  Washington,  the  Commander-in- 
Chief.  The  people  have  always  respected  his  memory,  and 
forts,  garrisons  and  public  institutions  without  number  in 
various  parts  of  the  country  have  been  named  in  his  honor. 
With  pleasure  I  recall  the  fact  that  the  youngest  county  in 
the  State  of  New  York —  my  own  native  county  —  bears  the 
name  of  Albany's  most  distinguished  soldier. 

Albany,  as  we  have  before  seen,  was,  by  natural  causes, 
destined  to  be  not  only  a  point  of  great  importance  in 
colonial  history  and  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  but  in 
her  relations  with  the  distant  Indian  tribes  and  the  early  set- 
tlers. She  did  not  lose  the  benefit  of  her  advantages  in  her 
later  history,  for  she  possessed  those  which  always  tend  to 
establish  the  capital  of  the  country.  As  the  Acropolis  and 
Mars  Hill,  in  view  of  the  "  Eye  of  Greece,"  made  Athens, 

362 


despite  every  opposing  influence  the  capital  of  an  early 
republic  ;  as  Rome,  situated  on  her  seven  hills,  was  the  most 
fitting  place  for  the  capitolium  of  her  mighty  empire ;  as 
Edinburgh,  London  and  Dubhn  became  the  capitals  of  their 
respective  countries,  so  Albany,  with  its  Capitol  Hill,  as 
beautiful  as  that  seen  from  the  Acropolis  of  Athens,  became 
the  capitol  of  the  Empire  State. 

On  March  21,  1787,  after  a  long  and  bitter  opposition,  an 
act  for  altering  the  chartered  rights  of  the  city  passed  both 
branches  of  the  Legislature  and  became  a  law.  Down  to 
that  period  the  Dongan  charter  had  continued  to  exist,  with 
a  few  changes  rendered  necessary  by  the  State  Constitution. 
This  act  did  not  effect  a  radical  change  in  the  charter;  it 
merely  divested  the  Mayor  of  the  power  of  acting  as  sole 
coroner  of  the  city  and  county,  and  deprived  the  aldermen 
and  Mayor  of  the  exclusive  right  to  the  regulation  of  trade 
with  the  Indians.  The  charter  amended  by  this  act  con- 
tinued to  be  the  fundamental  law  of  the  city,  with  some 
amendments,  until  March  16,  1870,  when  it  was  changed  by 
extensive  amendments  with  which  you  are  all  familiar. 

MADE    CAPITAL    OF    THE    STATE. 

With  this  glance  at  the  charter,  I  return  to  the  considera- 
tion of  Albany  as  the  capital  and  its  relation  to  the  State. 
Immediately  after  the  Revolution,  the  location  of  the  State 
capital  became  a  great  and  absorbing  question  to  the  people. 
The  important  position  of  Albany  during  the  colonial  period 
and  the  Revolution  made  it,  in  the  estimation  of  a  large 
class  of  the  people,  as  well  as  many  statesmen  and  legislators 
of  the  period,  a  most  proper  place  for  the  capital.  It  was 
not,  however,  without  antagonism  from  political  influence, 
and  from  rival  cities  and  towns  claiming  to  possess  superior 
advantages,  that  it  was  finally  established  here.  For  a  time 
the  prolonged  contest  over  the  seat  of  the  capital  gave  the 
seat  of  State  Government  and  the  State  Legislature  a  kind 
of  mercurial  existence,  and  the  State  had  no  established 
capital. 

The  first  session  of  the  Legislature  was  held  at  Kingston 
and  Poughkeepsie  in  1777-8;  the  second  session  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  1778-9;  the  third  Legislature  held  three  meetings, 
one  at  Kingston  in  1779,  one  at  Albany  and  one  at  King- 
ston in  1780  ;  the  fourth  had  three  meetings,  one  at  Pough- 
keepsie in  1780,  and  at  Albany  and  Poughkeepsie  in  1781 ; 

363 


the  fifth  Legislature  met  at  Poughkeepsie  in  1 781-2 ;  the  sixth 
session  was  held  at  Poughkeepsie  and  Kingston  in  1782-3; 
the  seventh,  eighth,  ninth  and  tenth  sessions  in  the  city  of 
New  York  from  1784  to  1787  ;  in  1788  the  eleventh  session 
at  Poughkeepsie;  the  twelfth  session,  1788-9,  at  Albany; 
from  1789  to  1793,  the  Legislature  met  in  the  city  of  New 
York;  the  seventeenth  session  was  at  Albany,  1794;  the 
eighteenth  at  Poughkeepsie  and  New  York  city ;  the  next 
session  was  held  in  New  York,  1796,  and  the  twentieth 
session,  1796-7,  at  New  York  and  Albany.  At  this  latter 
session  the  question  as  to  the  site  of  the  future  capital  was 
settled,  and  Albany  became  the  perpetual  seat  of  govern- 
ment in  the  State.  It  was  not  political  influence  alone,  nor 
the  influence  of  wealth,  nor  the  weight  of  local  importunity 
that  decided  this  great  question.  It  was,  to  a  great  extent, 
those  natural  advantages  which  have  been  already  described. 
Albany  became  the  capital  of  the  State  the  same  year  the 
United  States  Constitution  was  transmitted  to  Congress  for 
ratification  or  rejection.  Its  ratification  met  the  strongest 
opposition  in  our  own  State,  the  center  of  which  was  in  Al- 
bany, where  it  engendered  a  fierce  contest. 

RATIFYING    THE    CONSTITUTION. 

A  singular  feature  of  this  contest  was  that  Hamilton,  the 
leader  of  the  Federalists  in  this  State  and  Nation,  favored 
the  Constitution,  while  many  of  the  anti-FederaHsts,  despair- 
ing of  anything  better,  united  with  him  in  favoring  the  rati- 
fication. This  arrayed  old  political  friends  against  each 
other  with  that  intensity  of  hatred  which  seems  to  have 
been  incident  to  such  contests  in  the  early  days  of  the 
Republic.  The  discussions  in  the  city  over  this  question 
rendered  it  almost  the  pivotal  point  touching  the  adoption 
or  rejection  of  the  Constitution.  George  Clinton,  the  grand 
old  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  the  venerated  patriot  and 
statesman,  who  sat  in  the  Executive  Chair  of  the  State 
twenty-one  years,  the  uncompromising  enemy  of  the  Fed- 
eralists, the  unswerving  friend  of  popular  and  State 
rights,  and  his  friends  in  the  city,  who  were  powerful, 
opposed  the  ratification  of  the  Constitution  with  most 
intense  determination.  Political  writers  have  attributed 
Clinton's  policy  in  this  regard  to  his  hatred  of  Hamil- 
ton. It  is  believed,  however,  that  his  opposition  was 
stimulated   by  higher   and   loftier   motives.     He   regarded 

364 


the  Constitution  as  fantastic  and  experimental  —  a  fit 
instrument  to  deprive  the  people  of  the  State  of  their 
liberties.  The  convention  for  ratifying  it  met  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  June  17,  1788.  Of  the  seven  delegates  from 
Albany,  at  the  head  of  whom  was  one  of  its  most  beloved 
and  honored  citizens  and  jurists,  John  Lansing,  jr.,  four 
voted  against  the  ratification  and  three  declined  to  vote. 
At  this  time  CHnton  was  Governor  of  the  State  and  a 
resident  of  Albany,  but  he  represented  Ulster,  his  native 
county,  in  this  convention,  and  was  president  of  that  body. 
He  also  declined  to  vote  on  the  question.  On  July  26,  the 
Constitution  was  ratified  by  a  vote  of  thirty  to  twenty-seven. 
When  this  result  was  announced  in  Albany  the  city  became 
the  scene  of  a  memorable  contest  between  the  friends  and 
opponents  of  the  Constitution.  The  greatest  and  most  dis- 
tinguished citizens  participated  in  it.  Though  Clinton  and 
his  friends  were  overthrown  in  their  opposition,  a  brilliant 
triumph  awaited  them  in  the  amendments  to  the  Constitution 
which  he  had  favored,  and  which  were  soon  made.  He  and 
the  Albany  delegates  caused  these  amendments  to  the  Con- 
stitution, in  accordance  with  their  views  to  be  proposed  at 
the  first  session  of  the  first  Congress.  In  securing  the 
adoption  of  these  they  were  successful.  Ten  of  these 
amendments  were  ratified  by  the  Legislature  ■  of  1790,  and 
another  by  the  Legislature  of  1791.  These  eleven  amend- 
ments, originally  favored  by  Governor  Clinton  and  the 
Albany  delegates,  and  a  few  delegates  from  other  parts  of 
the  State,  were  added  so  soon  after  the  adoption  of  the 
Constitution  that  they  may  fairly  be  considered  a  part  of  the 
original  instrument.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  the  opposition  to 
the  Constitution  by  Clinton  and  his  Albany  friends  was  just 
and  honest,  and  the  amendments  which  he  had  urged  were 
in  accordance  with  the  true  doctrines  of  a  Republican 
government. 

CONTEST    IN    THE    FIRST    LEGISLATURE. 

The  first  session  of  the  Legislature,  which  assembled  after 
the  events  which  I  have  described  at  Albany,  December  11, 
1788,  was  the  scene  of  another  contest,  to  which,  from  our 
standpoint  to-day,  it  is  proper  to  refer:  The  Federalists 
controlled  the  Senate,  but  Clinton  had  a  large  majority  in 
the  House.  This  resulted  in  an  uncompromising  dead-lock 
over  the  choice  of  presidential  electors  and  the   election  of 

365 


a  United  States  Senator.  So  the  State  was  not  represented 
in  the  first  Electoral  College  which  voted  for  George  Wash- 
ington, and  was  also  unrepresented  in  the  Senate  of  the  next 
Congress.  This  session  was  convened  by  Governor  Clinton 
for  the  purpose  of  choosing  these  electors  and  a  United 
States  Senator.  One  of  the  strong  charges  made  against 
Clinton  was  his  delay  in  convening  this  Legislature  so  that 
the  electors  chosen  by  it  had  not  time  to  receive  the  legal 
notice  of  their  election  and  to  be  present  at  the  time  assigned 
by  the  Constitution  for  the  meeting  of  the  college.  But  it 
was  the  protracted  contest  in  the  Legislature  that  delayed 
the  selection,  and  not  the  action  of  the  Governor.  Those 
who  have  examined  the  State  journals  of  that  day  will  see 
how  deep  and  radical  was  the  contest  over  these  matters. 
They  will  also  see  with  gratification  how  a  large  majority  of 
the  citizens  of  Albany  united  in  sustaining  the  Governor  not 
only  during  this  contest,  but  in  the  gubernatorial  contest 
which  soon  followed,  in  which  he  was  again  a  candidate  for 
Governor,  and  which  resulted  in  his  election. 

LONG    A    JUDICIAL    CENTER. 

During  the  Dutch  colonial  period,  and  that  of  the  English, 
Albany  was  largely  the  center  of  provincial  jurisprudence. 
Here  the  Dutch  courts  of  Burgomasters  and  Scheppens 
were  held  in  the  old  Stadt  Huys  or  State  House,  erected 
soon  after  the  settlement  of  Albany.  When  the  English 
took  possession  of  the  colony,  courts  of  justice  were  organ- 
ized here,  under  the  authority  known  as  the  Duke's  laws,  a 
name  derived  from  the  Duke  of  York. 

In  1685,  one  year  before  the  city  charter  was  granted, 
Governor  Dongan  established  in  the  colony  a  Court  of  Ex- 
chequer, which  was  composed  of  the  Governor  and  his 
council.  The  history  of  this  tribunal  exhibits  the  judicial 
wisdom  of  this  accompHshed  Chief  Magistrate.  The  court 
had  jurisdiction  over  all  matters  relating  to  the  lands,  rents, 
rights,  profits  and  revenues  belonging  to  the  crown.  On  the 
abolishment  of  this  court  in  1691,  the  Colonial  Supreme 
Court  was  given  jurisdiction  in  these  matters.  After  the 
adoption  of  the  State  Constitution  this  court  was  reorgan- 
ized as  a  branch  of  the  State  Supreme  Court,  for  the  better 
levying  and  accounting  for  the  fines,  forfeitures  and  debts 
due  the  people  of  the  State.  One  term  of  Governor  Don- 
gan's  court  was  held  in  Albany  in  the  fall  of  1685. 

366 


We  have  seen  that  long  before  the  adoption  of  the  Fed- 
eral Constitution,  and  even  before  the  city  became  the  capi- 
tal of  the  State,  Albany  was  what  might  be  termed  a  judicial 
center.  From  the  time  it  became  the  State  capital  to  the 
present  time,  the  great  courts  of  the  State  have  held  their 
sittings  here.  The  great  Court  of  Dernier  Resort  —  the 
court  for  the  correction  of  errors  —  composed  of  State  Sena- 
tors, Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  and  the  Chancellor  of 
the  State,  held  its  sittings  here  from  its  organization  under 
the  Constitution  until  abolished  by  the  changes  in  the  Con- 
stitution of  1846.  Here,  too,  the  Court  of  Appeals,  the 
highest  judicial  tribunal  of  our  State,  has  mostly  held  its 
sittings  since  its  establishment  under  that  Constitution. 

Over  our  early  tribunals  presided  the  great  expounders  of 
our  legal  and  judicial  system :  Jay,  Hobart,  Benson,  Brock- 
hoist,  Livingston,  James  Kent  and  others.  The  early  decis- 
ions of  these  courts  exhibit  the  trained  minds,  enlarged  legal 
abilities  and  unwearied  industry  of  the  judicial  officers  who 
resided  in  this  city  —  Woodworth,  Lansing,  Yates,  Spencer 
and  Marcy ;  while  the  latter  decisions  also  show  the  abun- 
dant talents  of  Albany  jurists  equally  esteemed.  Here 
Henry,  Van  Vechten,  Van  Buren  and  Butler,  and  at  a  later 
period,  Reynolds,  Stevens,  Wheaton,  Hill,  Cagger,  Peck- 
ham,  Tremain,  Hand  and  others,  became  renowned  at  the 
Albany  bar. 

GREAT  CENTER  OF  POLITICAL  POWER. 

From  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  to  the  present 
time,  Albany  has  been  a  great  center  of  political  power. 
From  here  have  extended  the  arteries  which  have  sent  their 
pulsations  into  every  town  and  into  almost  every  home  in  the 
State.  We  are  standing  to-day  on  ground  where  great 
political  campaigns  have  been  planned  since  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  State  government.  Not  far  from  us  stood  the 
mansion  of  the  first  Clinton,  and  that  of  Jay  and  Van 
Vechten,  and  yonder  was  the  house  of  Schuyler,  within  the 
rooms  of  which  not  only  personal  political  plans  were  ma- 
tured, but  plans  of  wholesome  State  policy  and  legislation 
had  their  origin.  In  this  mansion  Hamilton  wrote  some  of 
the  best  pages  of  the  "  Federalist,"  a  work  which  stands  pre- 
eminent for  its  far-seeing  wisdom  and  is  honored  as  the 
most  powerful  literary  influence  that  was  wielded  in  behalf 
of  the  Constitution.     Whatever  ground  we  here  tread  seems 

367 


consecrated  to  those  primal  principles  of  legislation,  jurispru- 
dence, fundamental  laws  and  equitable  systems  which  aided 
much  in  causing  New  York  to  be  regarded  as  the  Empire 
State  of  the  Federal  Union. 

We  pass  the  Old  Elm  Tree  Corner  and  memories  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  with  all  the  thousand  associa- 
tions of  that  event,  come  upon  us,  for  there  lived  Philip 
Livingston,  one  of  its  signers.  Among  the  many  great 
political  contests  between  the  intellects  of  other  days,  which 
recollections  of  Albany  bring  up,  is  the  one  between  De 
Witt  CHnton  and  his  opponents ;  a  contest  which  culminated 
in  1824,  in  his  sudden  removal,  by  a  concurrent  resolution 
of  the  Senate  and  Assembly,  from  the  office  of  Canal 
Commissioner,  which  he  held  so  long,  with  honor  to  himself 
and  profit  to  the  State.  Few  events  of  the  past  created 
such  popular  indignation  as  this ;  and  the  ground  on  which 
we  stand  is  rendered  memorable  by  the  immense  gathering 
of  people  who  came  to  express  their  dissatisfaction  at  this 
excessive  measure  of  political  warfare.  To  this  great  meet- 
ing came  distinguished  citizens  from  every  part  of  the  State. 
From  the  city  of  New  York  came  the  illustrious  Irish 
lawyer,  orator  and  exile,  Thomas  Addis  Emmet;  with  him 
were  other  eminent  sons  of  the  metropolis.  They  came  to 
express  their  regard  for  the  man  whose  creative  energy,  great 
native  abiUty  and  self-sacrifice,  aided  largely  in  creating  those 
improvements  that  have  given  so  much  happiness  and  pros- 
perity to  the  people  of  this  State ;  their  admiration  for  the 
man  who  took  an  appeal  from  the  passions,  prejudices  and 
jealousies  of  his  own  time  to  the  future  for  his  reward,  and 
whose  appeal  has  been  abundantly  and  grandly  sustained. 

THE    FAMOUS    ALBANY    REGENCY. 

In  the  midst  of  these  scenes  another  citizen  of  Albany,  a 
statesman  of  the  Republic,  a  leader  of  a  great  party,  was 
developing  the  force  and  power  of  his  abilities.  He  was  the 
leading  spirit  in  the  famous  Albany  Regency,  which  was  as 
powerful  here  as  was  the  Areopagus  at  Athens,  the  Decem- 
viri at  Rome,  the  Council  of  Ten  in  Venice,  or  the  famous 
Cabal  in  the  reign  of  the  Second  Charles  of  England.  This 
personage  was  Martin  Van  Buren,  who  wielded  power  with 
all  the  subtlety  of  a  Richelieu,  a  Buckingham  or  a  Hafifax. 
With  him  were  associated  William  L.  Marcy,  the  first  of 
American  statesmen ;  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  the  learned  and 

368 


accomplished  reviser  of  the  statutes;  and  Edwin  Croswell, 
whose  trenchant  pen  in  journaUsm  never  found  but  one  rival 
in  the  State.  Amid  the  colHsions  of  Chnton  and  Tompkins, 
and  the  collisions  between  Chnton  and  his  adversaries  when 
Tompkins  left  the  field,  these  master  minds  deepened  the 
foundations  of  a  party  that  ruled  the  State  and  largely  the 
Nation  for  many  years.  Whatever  were  the  faults  of  this 
regency,  it  was  not  a  junta  of  petty  politicians ;  it  was 
formed  of  men  whose  intellects  placed  them  in  the  front 
rank  of  American  statesmen  and  commanded  the  respect  of 
men  of  all  parties.  What  other  city  in  the  Nation,  if  we 
except  Washington,  has  been  the  theatre  of  such  political 
action  and  policy  as  that  planned  and  carried  into  effect  by 
this  Albany  Regency  ?  It  made  Albany  the  home  of  a 
President,  the  home  of  Governors,  of  United  States  Sena- 
tors, Cabinet  Ministers,  Diplomats  and  Foreign  Ambassa- 
dors ;  for  its  influence  was  most  extensive  and  controUing. 

A    TRIBUTE    TO    ALBANY   JOURNALISTS. 

A  few  years  later  and  Albany  was  the  home  of  another 
regency  scarcely  less  powerful  —  a  regency  which  largely 
aided  in  forming  the  great  and  now  historical  Whig  Party, 
and  whose  activities  afterward  guided  its  destinies  in  the 
State  and  largely  in  the  Nation.  At  the  head  of  this  regency 
stood  Thurlow  Weed,  who  might  have  said,  "  I  am  the 
Whig  Party  of  the  State  of  New  York !  "  with  more  force 
and  with  more  truth  than  did  Louis  XIV.  when  he  ex- 
claimed, "  I  am  France  !  "  One  who  made  journalism  his 
truncheon  of  political  power ;  one  who,  without  personal 
ambition,  caused  the  most  ambitious  and  aspiring  to  ac- 
knowledge their  fealty  to  him  ere  their  own  political  schemes 
could  succeed,  or  their  political  ambition  be  gratified.  What 
thoughtful  man  can  walk  the  streets  of  Albany  without  call- 
ing up  the  remembrance  of  this  prominent  Albanian  —  this 
great  Richelieu  of  State  and  National  politics ;  so  perfectly 
acquainted  with  the  temperament  of  the  people ;  knowing 
so  well  how  to  bear  with  their  caprices,  to  foresee  their 
wishes,  awaken  their  sympathies  and  stimulate  them  to 
action. 

It  was  the  fortune  of  Mr.  Weed  to  encounter  in  his  poHti- 
cal  orbit  another  mind,  gifted  with  equal  powers  of  com- 
manding success ;  quite  as  fortunate  in  possessing  elements, 
serviceable  at  the  time,  for   securing  popular  favor.     The 

369 


struggle  was  what  might  have  been  expected  from  the  colli- 
sion of  two  such  powerful  antagonists.  It  rendered  Albany 
the  center  of  a  prolonged  newspaper  warfare  unequaled  in 
the  history  of  the  Nation.  Both  men  had  surprising  quick- 
ness of  thought ;  they  seemed  to  invent  arguments  and  to 
pour  out  their  views  and  arrive  at  conclusions  almost  in- 
stinctively. Many  of  their  editorials  were  written  during  the 
night  preceding  publication,  without  correction  or  previous 
preparation  ;  yet  they  compared  favorably  with  the  more 
elaborate  compositions  of  the  magazines.  It  is  singular  that 
what  they  did  on  so  short  notice  bore  so  few  marks  of  haste. 
Mr.  Weed's  editorials  were  brief,  sharp,  incisive  ;  their  effect 
was  like  the  quick  thrust  of  a  rapier ;  while  Mr.  Croswell's 
words  were  as  plain  as  those  of  Swift,  as  piercing  and  con- 
vincing as  those  of  Junius.  His  editorials  had  that  perfect 
union  of  elegance  and  strength,  logical  finish,  and  a  refined 
intensity  of  argument  which  always  told  with  effect.  Intim- 
ately associated  with  the  work  of  Croswell,  and  in  fact  his 
successor,  was  one  whose  name  will  always  be  held  in  affec- 
tionate and  honored  remembrance  —  the  genial,  the  brilliant, 
the  accomplished  William  Cassidy. 

ANOTHER    NOTED    NAME. 

There  was  another  name  connected  with  this  latter 
regency,  that  of  William  H.  Seward,  who  often  declared 
that  Albany  was  his  second  home.  It  was  here  he  arose 
from  one  position  of  political  eminence  to  another,  from 
a  State  Senator  to  the  Executive  Chair  of  the  State ;  from 
thence  to  the  Senate  of  the  Nation,  and  then  to  become 
Premier  of  a  Presidential  Cabinet.  On  his  return  from  his 
notable  journey  around  the  world  he  said  Albany,  next  to 
his  own  loved  Auburn,  was  a  resting-place  from  his  toils,  the 
center  of  memories  which  left  their  impress  on  almost  every 
page  of  the  history  of  his  life.  Upon  his  death  it  was  fitting 
that  the  Legislature  of  the  State  joined,  as  it  did,  with  the 
citizens  of  this  city  in  honoring  his  memory  by  an  appro- 
priate memorial  service,  held  in  the  North  Reformed  Dutch 
Church,  April  i8,  1873,  at  which  the  distinguished  orator, 
Charles  Francis  Adams,  delivered  a  most  eloquent  and  able 
address.  Albany  is  everywhere  full  of  the  recollections  of 
men  great  in  its  own  history,  great  in  the  history  of  the 
State,  and  great  in  the  history  of  the  Nation.  We  open  one 
page  of  history  and  there  is  recorded  the  career  of  William 

370 


L.  Marcy ;  another  page  is  adorned  by  the  great  name  of 
Horatio  Seymour,  a  name  that  will  ever  grow  brighter  and 
more  illustrious  as  the  years  pass  by. 

Here  has  been  the  permanent  location  of  the  Legislature 
or  law-making  department  of  the  State  for  nearly  a  century. 
For  good  or  for  evil  the  laws  which  have  been  here  enacted 
have  made  their  impress  upon  the  history  and  affected  the 
destiny  of  our  Commonwealth,  Whatever  of  them  have 
aided  to  safely,  wisely  and  successfully  guide  and  administer 
the  affairs  of  this  great  State — a  State  which  in  its  extent, 
resources  and  power  is  almost  a  Nation  of  itself —  may  be 
attributable  in  part  to  the  wholesome  influence  of  the  local 
associations  which  have  surrounded  this  law-abiding  and 
peace-loving  city. 

MEMORIES    OF    THE    OLD    CAPITOL. 

Near  the  very  spot  where  we  stand  the  comer-stone  of  the 
Old  Capitol  was  laid  in  1806  by  Philip  S.  Van  Rensselaer,  who 
was  the  Mayor  of  the  city,  in  the  presence  of  the  Chancellor, 
the  judges  of  the  higher  courts  and  prominent  citizens.  To 
this  Old  Capitol,  first  occupied  in  1808,  came  over  nine 
hundred  Senators  and  over  five  thousand  Assemblymen 
during  the  whole  period  of  its  use.  What  a  multitude  of 
law-makers !  The  elder  of  them  have  long  since  been 
gathered  to  the  homes  of  their  ancestors,  and  those  who 
survive  have,  during  this  anniversary  week,  assembled  here 
in  large  numbers  to  unite  with  you  in  this  demonstration. 
The  Old  Capitol  has  gone,  with  all  its  pleasant  associations 
and  tender  memories.  How  frequently  its  walls  resounded 
with  brilliant  legislative  oratory  and  parliamentary  debate  1 
There  were  often  heard  the  voices  of  Tallmadge,  Butler, 
Emmet,  Seward,  Dix,  Seymour  and  a  hundred  others  whose 
names  come  crowding  upon  our  memories.  Twice  on  its 
steps  stood  the  immortal  Webster,  in  1844  and  in  1851,  and 
addressed  the  citizens  of  Albany  in  that  grand  eloquence, 
never  equaled  in  modern  times,  and  seldom  excelled  in  the 
best  efforts  of  the  famous  orators  of  antiquity.  Hear  him  as 
he  exclaimed  to  the  young  men  of  the  city :  "  Go  on, 
young  men  of  Albany;  early  manhood  is  the  chief  prop  and 
support,  the  great  reliance  and  hope  for  the  perservation  of 
public  liberty  and  the  institutions  of  the  land.  It  looks  for- 
ward to  a  long  life  of  honor  or  dishonor;  and  it  means  that 
it  shall,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  be  a  life  of  honor,  usefulness 

371 


and  success  in  all  the  professions  and  pursuits  of  life ;  in  all 
that  would  bring  happiness  and  prosperity  to  your  beautiful 
city.  You  are  manly ;  you  are  bold  ;  you  fear  nothing  but 
to  do  wrong  —  dread  nothing  but  to  be  recreant  to  your 
country." 

THE    NEW    CAPITOL. 

In  the  place  of  the  old  building  the  State  has  erected  and 
is  now  engaged  in  completing  a  new  Capitol.  (I  venture 
to  indulge  in  the  hope  that  it  may  be  fully  completed  by 
your  next  Centennial  Day.)  While  it  has  occupied  many 
long  years  in  its  construction,  and  has  cost  up  to  the 
present  time  about  seventeen  millions  of  dollars,  and  while  it 
has  many  defects  and  might  well  have  been  better  adapted 
to  the  practical  uses  of  the  State,  yet,  admitting  all  these 
things,  it  is  one  of  the  most  important  structures  upon  the 
continent.  Its  appearance  is  grand  and  imposing ;  its 
splendid  architecture,  in  some  respects,  equals  anything  in 
the  world ;  its  magnificent  corridors,  its  unrivaled  stairways, 
its  beautiful  legislative  chambers,  its  admirable  court-rooms 
and  elegant  public  offices,  render  it,  all  in  all,  the  greatest 
of  modern  buildings.  I  make  the  prediction  that  if  it  shall 
be  permitted  to  be  finished  according  to  the  designs  pro- 
posed by  its  present  able  and  most  accomplished  architect 
and  builder,  it  will  be  an  ornament  not  only  to  the  city,  but 
to  the  State  and  country  as  well,  and  will  provide  the  State 
with  a  Capitol  of  which  all  its  citizens  may  justly  be  proud. 

PROVERBIAL    HOSPITALITY. 

The  patriotism  and  hospitafity  of  the  citizens  of  Albany 
have  been  proverbial  from  its  early  history.  I  can  speak 
without  reserve  upon  this  subject,  not  being  a  resident  of 
your  city,  but  having  only  an  official  habitation  among  you. 
The  stranger  has  ever  found  a  most  cordial  welcome  at  the 
homes  of  your  citizens  and  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  is 
always  extended.  The  State  officers,  the  judges  of  your 
courts,  the  thousands  of  prominent  citizens  from  all  parts  of 
the  State  who  have  respectively  served  in  the  Legislature 
during  the  century  just  closing  and  passed  their  winters  here, 
can  testify  their  appreciation  of  the  innumerable  acts  of 
kindness,  the  unaffected  politeness,  the  pleasant  courtesies 
and  the  genuine  hospitality  of  which  they  have  been  the 

372 


grateful  recipients  at  the  hands  of  the  good  people  of  this 
Capitol  City.  The  brilliant  receptions  of  the  Fort  Orange 
Club,  given  in  later  years  upon  every  memorable  occasion 
and  extended  not  only  to  the  most  distinguished  men  of  the 
Nation  visiting  Albany,  but  annually  to  the  Legislature  of 
the  State,  have  established  for  your  city  a  reputation  for 
elegant  civilities  and  generous  entertainment  to  your  visitors 
as  far-famed  as  it  is  deserved.  The  liberal  and  hospitable 
spirit  to  which  I  refer,  manifested  itself  as  early  as  General 
Washington's  visit  to  Albany  on  June  27,  1782,  when  he  was 
presented  by  the  city  authorities  with  the  freedom  of  the 
city  and  an  address  of  welcome,  "  the  document  being  con- 
tained in  a  gold  box."  The  bells  of  all  the  churches  were 
rung,  a  salute  of  thirteen  guns  was  fired  from  the  fort,  and 
at  night  the  city  was  illuminated.  Afterwards,  on  the  occa- 
sion of  another  visit  of  General  Washington,  accompanied 
by  Governor  CHnton,  on  July  19,  1783,  they  were  received 
as  the  guests  of  the  city,  and  invited  by  the  Common  Council 
to  a  public  dinner,  which  they  accepted,  "  the  city  officers 
going  in  a  body  to  the  inn  of  Hugh  Denniston,  where  an 
address  was  presented  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
United  States  Army,"  to  which  Washington  responded,  say- 
ing, among  other  things :  "  While  I  contemplate  with  irre- 
pressible pleasure  the  future  tranquillity  and  glory  of  our 
common  country,  I  cannot  but  take  a  peculiar  interest  in  the 
anticipation  of  the  increase  in  prosperity  and  greatness  of 
this  ancient  and  respectable  city  of  Albany,  from  whose 
citizens  I  have  received  such  distinguished  tokens  of  their 
approbation  and  affection."  Forty-two  years  afterwards 
Albany  welcomed  to  her  borders  the  compatriot  of  Washing- 
ton, the  immortal  La  Fayette,  who  arrived  in  the  city  from 
Vermont  on  July  i,  1825,  accompanied  by  the  Governor  of 
the  State  and  a  military  escort  from  Troy.  At  four  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  a  dinner  was  served  in  his  honor  by  the 
citizens  in  the  Capitol,  at  which  Judge  Story  and  Daniel 
Webster  of  Boston,  John  Woodvvorth,  Ambrose  Spencer 
and  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  are  mentioned  among  the 
guests  of  distinction,  and  among  the  toasts  was  the  following, 
proposed  by  La  Fayette  himself :  "Albany  as  I  have  known 
it,  and  Albany  as  it  is  now  —  a  comparative  standard 
between  royal  guardianship  and  the  self-government  of  the 
people ;  may  this  ditference  be  more  and  more  illustrated  at 
home  and  understood  abroad."     Upon  the  same  occasion 

373 


Daniel  Webster  proposed  this  toast:  "The  ancient  and 
hospitable  city  of  Albany  ;  where  General  La  Fayette  found 
his  head-quarters  in  1778,  and  where  men  of  his  principles 
find  good  quarters  at  all  times," 

The  hospitality  to  which  1  refer  has  endeared  Albany  to 
all  the  Governors  of  the  State,  and  to  none  more  than  to  my 
immediate  predecessor,  who,  upon  every  occasion,  has  kindly 
referred  to  the  pleasantness  of  his  home  when  here  among 
you,  and  the  warm  place  that  Albany  ever  holds  in  his 
memory.  That  esteem  and  that  warmth  of  recollection  have 
led  him  to  come  here  to-day  to  join  with  you  in  rejoicings, 
and  as  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  Nation  to  honor  the  cele- 
bration of  the  beginning  of  the  third  centur)'  of  your  life  as 
a  city.  And  with  him  he  has  brought  to  the  home  of  the 
distinguished  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  two  others,  honored 
members  of  his  Cabinet,  to  all  of  whom  the  citizens  of  Al- 
bany and  all  here  assembled  extend  a  most  cordial  welcome. 

THE  GREAT  SANITARY  BAZAAR. 

The  patriotism  exhibited  by  the  citizens  of  Albany  during 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion  needs  no  eulogy  at  my  hands. 
The  pen  of  history  has  well  performed  the  noble  task  of  re- 
cording the  important  part  which  this  city  took  in  that 
memorable  contest.  Being  the  seat  of  the  State  govern- 
ment, it  was  early  made  a  military  rendezvous  —  ordinary 
business  was  greatly  suspended ;  its  streets  resounded  with 
the  tread  of  armed  men  ;  the  appeals  of  the  government 
were  loyally  answered,  and  in  the  matter  of  voluntary  con- 
tributions for  the  comfort  of  our  soldiers  and  their  families, 
and  for  the  sick  and  wounded  in  camps  and  hospitals,  the 
citizens  of  Albany  manifested  the  greatest  liberality  during 
the  entire  period  of  the  struggle,  and  poured  forth  their 
treasures  like  water.  It  was  in  part  due  to  the  extraordinary 
exertions  of  your  local  officials  in  aiding  the  efforts  of  the 
State  administration  in  the  prompt  raising  of  troops,  that  it 
was  the  glory  of  New  York  to  be  enabled  to  be  always  in 
advance  of  the  calls  upon  her  by  the  government  for  men. 
In  the  endeavors  which  were  made  to  provide  for  the  fami- 
lies of  soldiers  needing  assistance,  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  raise  a  fund  called  the  "  Citizens'  Military  Relief  Fund," 
and  this  was  soon  supplemented  by  the  "  Ladies'  Army  Re- 
lief Association  of  Albany,"  which  was  organized  in  Novem 
ber,  1861,  to  co-operate  with    the    United    States   Sanitary 

374 


Commission  in  aid  of  the  sick  and  wounded,  the  first  presi- 
dent of  such  association  being  the  wife  of  Governor  Morgan, 
and  its  first  executive  committee  being  composed  of  the 
leading  ladies  of  the  city. 

In  the  months  of  February  and  March,  1864,  there  was 
held  in  the  city  the  great  Sanitary  Fair,  in  a  beautiful  build- 
ing erected  for  this  special  purpose  in  the  Academy  park,  it 
being  designated  as  "  The  Army  ReHef  Bazaar,"  and  the 
credit  for  the  organization  of  which  belonged  to  the  patriotic 
ladies  of  the  Army  Relief  Association.  On  February  22, 
1864,  the  fair  was  inaugurated  amid  the  greatest  enthusiasm, 
before  an  immense  audience  and  under  brilliant  auspices,  an 
eloquent  and  appropriate  introductory  address  being  deliv- 
ered by  the  president  of  the  fair,  ex-Mayor  George  H. 
Thacher,  the  father  of  the  present  Mayor  of  this  city,  who 
so  ably  and  gracefully  presides  upon  this  occasion,  followed 
by  an  address  from  Horatio  Seymour,  then  Governor  of  the 
State  —  the  city  and  State  then,  as  now,  cordially  uniting  in 
all  that  conduces  to  the  welfare  and  honor  of  the  Capital 
City.  Governor  Seymour's  remarks  were,  as  usual,  scholarly 
and  most  admirable,  his  opening  sentences  being  as  follows : 
"  Upon  a  day  sacred  to  the  memory  of  our  greatest  and 
purest  statesmen,  upon  a  spot  made  famous  by  historical 
incidents,  we  meet  for  a  purpose  which  appeals  to  our  liveli- 
est sympathy.  It  is  fit  that  the  capital  of  a  great  State  which 
furnishes  so  large  a  share  of  the  armies  of  the  country,  and 
which  is  so  numerously  represented  amid  the  sick  and 
wounded  of  our  hospitals  and  among  the  graves  of  our 
battle  fields  should  be  prominent  in  eftbrts  to  soften  the 
calamities  of  war.  Upon  this  occasion  the  historical  events 
connected  with  this  city  and  the  adjacent  towns  are  brought 
back  to  our  memories."  He  then  referred  to  several  histori- 
cal matters  of  interest,  and  among  other  things  mentioned 
the  fact  that  the  first  colonial  congress  or  convention  presided 
over  by  Benjamin  FrankHn  was  held  here,  and  said  ;  "  This 
was  the  first  distinct  movement  to  a  union  among  the  colo- 
nies looking  to  strength  and  protection  from  united  counsels 
and  combined  efforts.  Thus  Albany  became  the  birth-place 
of  our  Union.  In  God's  name,  then,  let  it  be  upheld  and 
cherished  here.  The  first  time  that  the  stars  and  stripes 
were  ever  displayed  upon  our  national  banner  —  the  first 
time  that  its  emblems  of  State  sovereignties  and  national 
unity  were  ever  given  to  the  winds  of  heaven  —  the  first 

375 


time  that  that  flag  was  ever  displayed  which  now  kindles  the 
enthusiasm  and  patriotism  of  the  American  in  whatever  part 
of  the  world  he  may  see  it,  and  under  whose  folds,  in  devo- 
tion to  its  sacred  import,  a  million  of  men  have  battled 
within  the  last  three  years  —  that  flag  was  first  borne  into  the 
dangers  of  the  battle  field  in  the  defense  of  this  city.  It 
was  also  first  used  to  defeat  an  effort  to  divide  the  united 
colonies."  *  *  *  "  This  most  formidable  attempt " 
(which  he  had  previously  described),  "  upon  our  national 
existence,  was  defeated  upon  the  plains  of  Saratoga,  and  the 
three-fold  attack  upon  Albany  was  baffled  and  defeated.  It 
was  in  that  battle  of  Saratoga  that  our  national  flag  was  first 
used.  If  we  regard,  then,  the  object  for  which  we  are 
assembled,  and  the  relationship  which  that  object  bears  to 
the  union  of  our  country  and  its  glorious  flag,  we  find  that 
the  associations  which  cluster  around  this  spot  are  all  in  fit 
keeping,  and  well  calculated  to  excite  our  interest  and  our 
enthusiasm." 

Albany's  prominence  in  education  and  art. 
Your  city  has  always  stood  in  the  front  rank  of  those  of 
our  State  and  land  in  the  excellence  of  its  provisions  for  the 
education  of  its  children.  The  common  schools  take  a  place 
second  to  none  in  the  whole  State,  and  the  numerous  insti- 
tutions of  learning  which  had  their  origin  in  the  public  spirit 
of  private  citizens,  attest  the  interest  which  has  been  taken 
in  this  most  important  feature  of  the  growth  of  a  well- 
organized  city.  The  Albany  Academy  is  one  of  the  oldest 
incorporated  institutions  of  learning  in  the  United  States, 
and  has  sent  far  and  wide  its  pupils  to  fill  with  credit  to  you 
and  to  it  the  places  of  responsibility  and  usefulness  in  which 
their  fellow-citizens  have  placed  them.  Over  its  teachings 
have  presided  such  men  as  Beck,  the  author  of  the  well- 
known  work  on  medical  jurisprudence  which  bears  his 
name ;  Bullions,  the  Latin  and  Greek  grammarian,  and 
Joseph  Henry,  the  Henry  now  famous  in  history  as  the  one 
who  in  that  very  academy  was  the  first  to  practically  demon- 
strate the  availability  of  the  principle  of  the  magnetic  tele- 
graph ;  and  from  among  the  long  array  of  the  academy's 
students  a  hundred  names  come  at  once  to  your  memory  of 
those  who  have  taken  their  stand  among  the  citizens  of  New 
York,  strong  for  the  right  and  well-equipped  to  carry  for- 
ward every  just  cause.     The  State  Normal  School,  the  first 

Z7^ 


institution  of  that  character  in  the  State,  whose  new  home 
overlooks  the  freshness  and  beauty  of  Washington  park,  has 
furnished  the  primary  schools  of  the  State  with  many  of  their 
best  teachers.  The  influences  for  lives  of  integrity  and 
helpful  service  thrown  about  those  thousands  of  pupils  while 
their  home  was  among  you  who  have  borne  fruit  in  the  good 
citizenship  of  multitudes  of  men  and  women  about  you  and 
in  distant  towns  and  villages  throughout  the  State  whom 
these  teachers,  in  their  turn,  have  influenced.  To  the  Al- 
bany Female  Academy,  incorporated  in  182 1,  whose  classic 
front  for  many  years  has  stood  a  feature  in  the  now  busy 
thoroughfare  of  North  Pearl  street,  have  come  the  daughters 
of  our  own  and  neighboring  States,  going  out  from  here  to 
join  that  company  of  noble  and  educated  women  whose  is 
the  power  that  so  greatly  controls  the  destinies  of  our  Re- 
public. And  in  this  fraternity  of  schools  there  are  younger 
members  whose  names  and  characteristics  I  will  not  stop  to 
mention,  who  are,  with  their  older  companions,  yearly  add- 
ing to  the  renown  of  Albany  as  one  of  the  most  effective 
educational  centers  of  the  State. 

The  medical  and  legal  professions  of  the  State  and  county 
also  have  been,  and  continue  to  be,  indebted  to  the  schools 
of  medicine  and  law,  situated  here,  for  many  of  their  most 
active  and  able  members.  In  the  faculty  of-  the  Medical 
College  have  appeared  the  names  of  such  honored  Alba- 
nians as  March,  Armsby,  Dean,  who  was  also  the  author  of 
a  standard  work  on  medical  jurisprudence ;  James  Mc- 
Naughton,  Townsend,  Mosher  and  Vanderpoel,  all  now 
passed  away,  but  succeeded  by  professors  no  less  able  and 
faithful  in  the  work.  The  Law  School  has  had  among  its 
instructors,  who  were  Albanians,  Ira  Harris,  Amos  Dean, 
Amasa  J.  Parker,  Isaac  Edwards,  and  with  them,  at  various 
times,  have  been  associated  many  of  the  judges  of  our 
highest  tribunals,  whose  homes  temporarily  or  permanently 
have  been  in  this  city. 

Often  as  the  birth-place,  and  often  as  the  home  of  those 
skilled  in  art,  with  brush  and  with  chisel,  has  Albany  been 
famed.  Their  works  on  canvas,  in  marble  and  in  bronze, 
are  in  every  city  in  our  land.  In  the  notable  collection  of 
paintings  and  statuary  appropriately  gathered  in  the  Acad- 
emy building,  near  at  hand,  Albany  artists  bear  their  part 
with  honor  and  with  praise.  For  half  a  century  this  has 
been   the   home    of  that   distinguished    among   American 

377 


sculptors  —  Palmer  —  whose  grandest  work  adorns,  in  all 
Its  majesty,  your  neighboring  city  of  the  dead.  Here  lived 
Ezra  Ames,  whose  stately  portrait  of  the  great  first  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State,  General  George  Clinton,  has  for  years 
occupied  a  conspicuous  place  of  honor  in  the  Executive 
Chamber  of  the  Capitol.  Time  would  fail  me  to  enumerate 
all  these  noted  artists  and  all  their  works.  What  memories 
awaken  at  the  names  of  Brown  and  Hartley,  and  Thompson 
and  Calverly  ;  of  Boughton,  Elliott,  Gay,  the  Harts,  Inman, 
McGrath,  Twitchell,  Ferguson  and  Kidd.  And  may  those 
of  our  own  years — Low,  Martin,  Lang,  Palmer,  Ochtman, 
Pennie,  Engle,  Davidson  and  the  rest — fulfill  the  future 
that  there  works  of  to-day  foreshadow. 

THE    FUTURE    OF    ALBANY. 

What  shall  be  said  of  the  future  of  Albany  ?  That  it  will 
largely  share  in  the  prosperity,  growth,  honor  and  renown 
that  surely  awaits  this  progressive  country  of  ours  in  the 
years  which  are  to  follow,  may  be  safely  predicted.  That  it 
will  remain  the  proud  capital  of  the  Empire  State  as  long  as 
the  State  itself  shall  endure  may  well  be  anticipated.  There 
are  too  many  pleasant  associations  connected  with  yonder 
square  ;  too  many  glorious  incidents  of  history  have  occured 
there ;  too  much  treasure  has  been  expended  on  yonder 
structure  (the  Capitol  building) ;  too  many  eloquent  words 
have  been  uttered  and  noble  deeds  performed  on  this  sacred 
spot  to  think  for  a  single  moment  that  the  people  of  this 
State  will  ever  consent  to  a  change  of  its  present  seat  of 
government.  As  well  might  we  rudely  snatch  the  infant 
from  its  mother's  arms  as  to  attempt  to  take  away  from  this 
venerable  city  the  designation  as  the  capital  which  it  has 
cherished,  protected  and  prized  for  nearly  a  century.  The 
oldest  city  in  the  State  deserves  this  recognition  of  its  merits, 
based  upon  its  antiquity,  even  if  upon  nothing  else. 

It  has  been  said  that  Albany  must  necessarily  be  retarded 
or  contracted  in  its  growth,  because  it  is  not  situated  adjoin- 
ing the  ocean  or  upon  any  of  the  great  lakes.  This  is  a 
mistake.  Its  natural  advantages  are  ample  and  sufficient  to 
ensure  the  greatest  development,  and,  although  not  upon  an 
ocean  port,  it  is  upon  tide-water  and  upon  a  river  capable 
of  immense  commerce.  London  is  situated  on  the  Thames 
sixty  miles  west  from  the  sea.  Paris  is  traversed  by  the 
Seine  one  hundred  and  eleven  miles  from  its  mouth  on  the 

378 


ocean.  Philadelphia  adjoins  the  Delaware  ninety-six  miles 
from  the  waters  of  the  Atlantic.  It  is  thus  to  be  seen  that 
natural  advantages  alone  do  not  make  great  municipalities. 

No  one  can  foresee  the  possibilities  which  are  open  before 
this  large,  busy  manufacturing  and  commercial  town.  Wealth 
and  intelligence  your  citizens  already  have.  Trade  and  com- 
merce are  here  to  remain,  if  properly  fostered  and  protected. 
Labor  is  here  without  limit  to  build  up  your  industries,  if  it 
is  suitably  rewarded.  The  facilities  for  liberal  education  are 
nowhere  better  or  more  abundant.  Your  free  schools  and 
your  generous  charities  are  the  pride  of  the  State.  The 
fifty-seven  spires  of  your  churches,  pointing  to  the  heavens, 
attest  the  religious  character  and  piety  of  a  Christian  com- 
munity. Your  city  has  furnished  to  the  religious  world  an 
illustrious  Archbishop  and  Cardinal  and  several  Bishops,  for 
this  place  was  the  scene  of  the  early  ministrations  of  some 
as  well  as  the  present  abode  of  others.  The  future  of  this 
city  depends,  as  does  that  of  every  other  community,  much 
upon  the  enterprise,  the  thrift,  the  industry,  the  ambitions 
and  the  virtues  of  the  people  themselves.  It  can  almost  be 
truthfully  said  that  a  city  is  what  its  citizens  make  it.  Its 
honor,  its  purity,  its  enterprise,  its  glory  —  in  fact  its  whole 
character  —  is  greatly  in  its  own  keeping.  A  few  leading 
citizens  of  public  spirit  and  indomitable  will  can  almost  alone 
shape  its  fortunes  and  control  its  destinies.  Even  one 
resolute  man  alone  can  sometimes  do  much  for  good  or  evil 
in  dictating  the  policy  or  progress  of  a  municipality. 

The  inflexible  purpose  and  iron  will  of  Napoleon  made 
him  a  leader  even  in  his  youth,  and  led  to  his  subsepuently 
being  made  the  Emperor  of  France.  The  scholarly  and 
eloquent  Wendell  Phillips  thus  relates  an  interesting  incident 
in  the  life  of  the  Emperor,  and  says  that :  "  We  are  apt  to 
trace  his  control  of  France  to  some  noted  victory,  to  the 
time  when  he  camped  in  the  Tuilleries,  or  when  he  dissolved 
the  Assembly  by  the  stamp  of  his  foot.  He  reigned,  in  fact, 
when  his  hand  was  first  felt  on  the  helm  of  the  vessel  of 
State,  and  that  was  far  back  of  the  time  when  he  had  con- 
quered in  Italy,  or  his  name  had  been  echoed  over  two 
continents.  It  was  on  the  day  when  five  hundred  irresolute 
men  were  met  in  that  Assembly,  which  called  itself  and  pre- 
tended to  be  the  Government  of  France.  They  heard  that 
the  mob  of  Paris  was  coming  the  next  morning,  thirty 
thousand  strong,  to  turn  them,  as  was  usual  in  those  days, 

379 


out  of  doors.  And  where  did  this  seemingly  great  power  go 
for  its  support  and  refuge  ?  They  sent  Talhen  to  seek  out 
a  boy  Ueutenant  —  the  shadow  of  an  officer  —  so  thin  and 
paUid  that,  when  he  was  placed  on  the  stand  before  them, 
President  of  the  Assembly,  fearful,  if  the  fate  of  France 
rested  on  the  shght  form,  the  pale  cheek  before  him,  that  all 
hope  was  gone,  asked :  '  Young  man,  can  you  protect  the 
Assembly  ?  '  And  the  stern  lips  of  the  reserved  and  digni- 
fied Corsican  boy  parted  only  to  reply :  '  I  always  do  what 
I  undertake.'  Then  and  there  Napoleon  may  be  deemed 
to  have  ascended  his  throne  and  the  next  day,  from  the 
steps  of  St.  Roche,  thundered  forth  the  cannon  which  taught 
the  mob  of  Paris  for  the  first  time  that  it  had  a  master.  That 
was,  indeed,  the  commencement  of  the  empire." 

ALBANY    ALWAYS    DOES    WELL. 

Citizens  of  Albany,  I  cannot  pay  you  a  higher  compli- 
ment upon  this  occasion  than  to  say  that  from  the  time  you, 
through  your  forefathers,  first  demanded  from  kingly  power 
a  royal  charter  for  this  city,  and  secured  it ;  and  later  sought 
to  keep  and  bravely  kept  that  city  free  from  British  subjection 
and  control  during  substantially  the  whole  Revolutionary 
period,  and,  later  still,  you  aspired  to  make  that  beloved  city 
the  capital  of  your  State  and  accomplished  it ;  down  to  the 
eventful  period  when  Albany  capitalists  projected  the  first 
railroad  ever  constructed  in  the  State,  if  not  in  the  country, 
and  successfully  built  it  from  Schenectady  to  this  place ;  and 
during  recent  years  in  the  planning  and  laying  out  by  your 
public-spirited  officials  of  those  magnificent  grounds  in  the 
western  part  of  the  city  known  as  Washington  park,  which, 
although  not  great  in  extent,  are  unsurpassed  for  beauty  and 
taste  in  the  whole  country ;  and  in  founding,  by  private 
munificence,  of  the  far-famed  Dudley  Observatory,  which  is 
an  honor  and  credit  to  the  city,  and  a  noble  contribution  to 
science  ;  in  the  designing  and  construction  of  yonder  stately 
City  Hall,  one  of  the  architectural  successes  of  the  age ;  in 
the  institution  and  successful  maintenance  in  your  city  of 
one  of  the  oldest  banking  institutions  in  the  country ;  in  the 
organization  and  continuance,  for  over  fifty  years,  of  that 
renowned  military  organization  known  as  the  "  Burgesses 
Corps,"  which  has  participated  in  nearly  every  prominent 
patriotic  celebration  that  has  occurred  in  our  State  and 
country  during  its  existence ;  in  the  increase   of  its  railroad 

380 


facilities  ;  in  the  rise,  progress  and  development  of  the  com- 
mercial, manufacturing  and  industrial  interests  of  the  city; 
in  all  these  varied  achievements  the  citizens  of  Albany  have 
illustrated  that  Napoleonic  spirit  to  which  I  have  referred, 
and  grandly  done  whatever  they  have  undertaken.  The 
success  which  attends  this  magnificent  celebration  of  to-day 
is  only  another  evidence  that  you  have  faithfully  performed 
what  you  undertook  to  do,  and  demonstrates  what  Albany 
can  accomplish  when  it  is  fully  aroused  and  its  old  Dutch 
blood  is  stirred,  especially  when  patriotically  assisted  by 
Irish  enthusiasm,  German  zeal,  Yankee  ingenuity  and  the 
kind  efforts  of  those  of  every  other  nationality  —  American 
citizens  all  —  who  are  proud  to  call  this  venerable  city  their 
home. 

In  all  the  years  of  its  past  history,  this  city  has  been  com- 
paratively free  from  pestilence  ;  it  has  escaped  the  horrors 
of  famine  ;  no  great  adversity  has  overtaken  it ;  its  citizens 
have  enjoyed  the  blessings  of  health,  prosperity  and  abun- 
dance ;  kind  Providence  has  watched  over  its  destinies  with 
tender  care,  and  it  is  peculiarly  fitting,  in  the  Hght  of  these 
manifestations  of  Divine  favor,  that  the  people  should  give 
thanks  to  the  Great  Ruler  of  the  Universe,  and  that  we 
should  mingle  our  prayers  and  rejoicings  together : 

"  Let  the  heavens  rejoice  and  let  the  earth  be  glad." 

"  Let  the  floods  clap  their  hands  ;  let  the  hills  be  joyful  together." 

"  Let  the  field  be  joyful  and  all  that  is  therein,  then  shall  all  the  trees 

of  the  wood  rejoice." 

"  Let  the  sea  roar  and  the  fullness  thereof;   the  world  and  they  that 

dwell  therein." 

GLORIOUS    MEMORIES    OF    THE    DAY. 

Every  expression  of  rejoicing  this  day  given  is  an  evidence 
of  your  gratitude  for  all  these  blessings ;  they  are  also  your 
tribute  of  respect  to  the  many  heroes  who  constituted  your 
early  settlers.  Every  bell  that  rang  out  on  this  morning  air  was 
in  remembrance  of  the  virtues  of  those  who  secured  your 
chartered  rights  in  the  days  of  1686.  Every  rocket  that 
shoots  up  into  the  heavens  is  in  honor  of  the  soldiers  who 
periled  their  lives  in  defense  of  your  city  behind  the  barri- 
cade of  old  Fort  Orange.  E^very  cannon  that  belches  forth 
its  thunder  tones  speaks  praises  in  behalf  of  the  brave  men 
and  earnest  women  who  have  preserved  for  you  the  priceless 
heritage  of  your  city's  freedom  during  the  past  two  hundred 
years.     Every  banner  that  is  grandly  spread  in   the  breeze, 

-.81 


every  beautiful  decoration  that  adorns  your  homes  or  places 
of  business,  every  display  of  your  citizen  soldiery,  every  im- 
posing procession  that  is  formed  in  your  streets,  every  gun 
that  is  fired,  every  bugle  note  that  is  sounded,  every  flag 
that  is  unfurled,  every  song  that  is  sung,  every  eloquent 
word  that  is  uttered  —  all  these  are  the  tokens  of  your  ap- 
preciation of  the  achievements  of  your  patriotic  Revolution- 
ary sires,  of  the  inestimable  value  of  municipal  independence 
and  chartered  rights,  and  of  all  the  glorious  memories  which 
cluster  around  this  Bi-Centennial  Day. 

As  the  orator  concluded,  the  large  assemblage  rose 
and  applauded. 

In    response    to    repeated    calls    from    among  the 

audience,  and  which  soon  became  general,  President 

Cleveland,  addessing  them,  said  : 

"  Citizens  of  Albany  :  I  came  here  to-day  as  an  invited 
guest  to  a  family  reunion.  I  desire  to  be  modest  and  not 
mingle  too  freely  in  the  congratulations  and  celebrations 
which  belong  more  properly  to  you.  I  do  not  wish  to 
sound  a  single  note  of  discord,  but  I  have  heard  so  much 
of  the  Dutch,  and  of  this  being  a  Dutch  city,  so  much  talk 
of  the  olden  time  and  of  its  customs,  that  when  I  remember 
that  I  dwelt  two  years  among  you,  I  wonder  whether  I  am 
in  the  right  place  or  not.  At  the  risk  of  creating  discord- 
ance, I  will  say  that  in  my  time  Dutch  was  not  the  language 
of  the  town.  The  people  spoke  English,  and  to  me  words 
in  English  of  kindness  that  I  shall  never  forget.  I  am  glad, 
however,  that  you  got  your  charter.  When  I  lived  here  I 
think  you  also  had  a  charter,  but,  according  to  my  remem- 
brance, it  was  a  charter  passed  by  the  Legislature  of  the 
State  in  the  first  year  I  spent  here  and  approved  by  me.  I 
must  not  detain  you  longer,  but  I  cannot  refrain  from  express- 
ing to  you  my  appreciation  of  the  kindness  with  which  you 
have  received  me,  and  from  repeating  the  homely  and  old- 
fashioned  wish  —  may  the  citizens  of  Albany  and  their 
descendants  see  many  happy  returns  of  the  day." 

He  was  followed  by  Secretary  Bayard,  who  said : 

"  Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  Citizens  of  Albany  :  I 
thank  you  most  profoundly  for  your  kindness  in  thus  recog- 
nizing my  presence  among  you.     I  came  here  as  the  friend 

382 


and  companion  of  one  whom  it  is  my  honor  and  pleasure 
to  assist  in  the  administration  of  our  pubUc  affairs.  It  is  my 
further  pleasure  as  an  American  citizen  to  take  part  in  the 
commemoration  of  honorable  American  traditions  that  so 
frequently  take  place  in  all  parts  of  our  country,  and  I 
rejoice  to  see  them  so  worthily  celebrated  here.  I  have 
something  in  my  traditional  ancestry  of  the  blood  of  the 
early  Dutch  founders  of  this  city,  and  I  thank  you  for  the 
opportunity  of  saying  so." 

Secretary  Whitney  being  loudly  called  for,  re- 
sponded, saying: 

"  I  will  occupy  but  a  moment  of  your  time,  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  in  expressing  to  you  that  which  must  be  the 
common  sentiment  of  every  one  present  inspired  by  such  a 
beautiful  day,  by  such  a  gathering  of  people,  and  by  the 
interesting  exercises  at  which  we  have  been  present  for 
several  hours.  It  is  an  additional  pleasure  to  have  the 
opportunity  of  thanking  you  for  the  courtesy  shown  us  and 
of  saying  that  I  shall  bear  away  grateful  recollections  of  the 
reception  we  have  received  this  afternoon.  Nothing  more 
than  this  expression,  I  am  sure,  is  called  for  from  me." 

The  programme  ended  with  the  audience  singing 

"America,"  in  chorus  with  the  orchestra  and  Bi-cen- 

tennial  chorus. 

The   Legislative   Reunion. 

THE  reunion  a  DECIDED  SUCCESS  —  A  LARGE 
ATTENDANCE. 

The  legislative  reunion  proved  one  of  the  most 
notable  of  the  many  features  of  the  grand  celebra- 
tion. Parlor  fifty-seven  at  the  Delevan  house  was 
thronged  with  members  and  ex-members  of  the  Leg- 
islature. 

AN   INFORMAL    REUNION. 

The  informal  reunion  was  a  most  enjoyable  and 
agreeable  affair,  and  it  was  the  unanimous  voice  of 
those  present  that  Albany  had  added   greatly  to  her 

383 


renown  for  hospitality.  The  members  reviewed  the 
procession  from  the  spacious  appartments  assigned 
them,  and  subsequently  were  escorted  to  the  rink  by 
Col.  Parker  and  the  Troy  Citizens'  Corps,  where  they 
listened  to  the  interesting  exercises.  At  the  close  of 
these  ceremonies  they  returned  to  the  Delavan.  In 
the  evening  they  paid  their  respects  to  President 
Cleveland  and  Governor  Hill  at  the  capitol. 

The  following  members  reported  :  Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor Jones,  Assemblyman  M.  F.  Collins,  Assembly- 
man J.  Stanley  Browne,  Assemblyman  Fremont  Cole, 
Assemblyman  H.  J.  Coffey,  Assemblyman  John  C. 
Hogeboom,  Assemblyman  Thomas  McCarthy,  As- 
semblyman Stephen  T.  Hopkins,  Assemblyman  John 
Barnes,  Senator  Edward  S.  Esty,  Assemblyman  C. 
M.  Titus,  St.  Lawrence  county;  Assemblyman  L.  E. 
Bowen,  Otsego  county ;  Assemblyman  W.  F.  Taylor, 
Rensselaer  county;  Assemblyman  John  Buckman, 
Kings  county;  Assemblyman  "  Uncle"  David  Grey, 
Oneida  county;  Assemblyman  N.  M.  Curtis,  St. 
Lawrence  county ;  Assemblyman  D.  S.  Potter, 
Saratoga  county;  Assemblyman  E.  P.  Hagan,  New 
York ;  Assemblyman  Norton  Chase,  Albany ;  As- 
semblyman Thomas  H.  Tremper,  Kingston  ;  ex-Sena- 
tor John  Van  Schaick,  Cobleskill ;  Senator  M.  C. 
Murphy,  New  York ;  Asssemblyman  James  E.  Mor- 
rison, New  York;  Assemblyman  Alex.  Robertson, 
Albany;  Assemblyman  Thomas  Kearney,  Albany; 
Assemblyman  R.  C.  Blackall,  Albany ;  Assemblyman 
Robert  Frazier,  Oneida  county ;  Assemblyman 
George  W.  Greene,  Orange  county ;  Assemblyman 
Wm.  Dalton,  New  York;  Assemblyman  A.  T.  Ackert, 

384 


Dutchess  county ;  Assemblyman  Alfred  E.  Stacey, 
Onondaga  county ;  Senator  James  Arkell,  Canajo- 
harie ;  Senator  John  Raines,  Canandaigua;  Senator 
Francis  Hendricks,  Syracuse  ;  Senator  Henry  A.  Fos- 
ter (i83i,'32,'33,'34, '4i,'42,'43,'44)  ;  SenatorChas. 
F.  Barager,  Tioga  county;  Senator  William  Voor- 
his,  Rockland  county;  Senator  Charles  L.  Knapp, 
Lowville ;  Senator  H.  J.  Coggeshall,  Oneida  county; 
Senator  Peter  S.  Danforth,  Schoharie  county;  Sen- 
ator Andrew  J.  Colvin,  Albany;  Senator  George 
S.  Nichols,  Greene  county;  Senator  Lorenzo  D.  Col- 
lins, Albany  county  ;  Senator  Charles  Hughes,  Wash- 
ington county;  Assemblymen  Frank  B.  Arnold,  Ot- 
sego county ;  Charles  A.  Chickering,  Lewis  county ; 
William  Lewis,  Delaware  county ;  Thomas  Farrelh 
Brooklyn ;  Thomas  Dickson,  Troy ;  Peter  Schoon- 
maker,  Albany  county ;  Ed.  D.  Cutler,  Schenectady 
county ;  Francis  H.  Woods,  Albany  county ;  Frank 
W.  Vosburgh,  Albany  county;  R.  W.  Evans,  Oneida 
county ;  John  N.  Foster,  Albany  county ;  George  W- 
Clarke,  New  York ;  D.  L.  Boardman,  Troy ;  William 
S.  Clark,  Schoharie  county;  Charles  Brewster,  Scho- 
harie county;  Robert  H.  Smith,  Orange  county;  L 
D.  Leverich,  Seneca  county  ;  Diedrich  Willers,  jr., 
Seneca  county ;  R.  A.  Derrick,  Rensselaer  county ; 
C.  D.  Fellows,  Otsego  county ;  Andrew  Blessing, 
New  York;  James  J.  Graham,  Orange  county  (1849, 
'66, '77, '78) ;  H.  A.  Phillips,  Lewis  county;  A.  S. 
Draper,  Albany  county ;  Perrin  A.  McGraw,  Cort- 
land county;  E.  J.  Shelley,  New  York;  W.  F.  Shee- 
han,  Erie  county;  Daniel  Bradley,  Kings  county; 
Wm.  M.  Donald,  Saratoga   county;   J.    H.    Manville, 

385 


Washington  county;  O.  F.  Potter,  Albany  county; 
W.  D.  Gorsline,  Herkimer  county;  John  P.  Windolph, 
New  York;   Charles   D.  Baker,  Steuben   county;    H. 

C.  Gifford,  Rensselaer  county ;  A.  G.  Allen,  Waverly ; 
F.  Sanderson,  Sidney  Centre ;  C.  C.  Lodewick,  Rens- 
selaer county ;  William  Brooks,  Otsego  county ; 
Wm.  W.  Lawson,  Erie  county ;  A.  H.  Baker,  Erie 
county ;  D.  H.  Roche,  Kings  county ;  J.  W.  Chese- 
bro,  Albany  county;  John  Tighe,  Albany  county; 
John  McShea,  Schenectady  county  ;  R.  G.  Havens, 
Schoharie  county;  J.  H.  Brown,  Schoharie  county; 
Wm.  H.  Singerland,  Albany  county;  E.  B.  Osborn, 
Dutchess  county ;  Andrew  A.  Mather,  Otsego  county ; 
Fordyce  L.  Laflin,  Ulster  county  ;  Charles  R,  Skinner* 
Jefferson  county;  Shotwell  Powell,  Ontario  county; 
Charles  H.  Krack,  Ulster  county;  William  T. 
Miles,  Rensselaer  county ;  F.  B.  Freligh,  Ulster 
county;  Wm.  P.  Moores,  Clinton  county;  Senators 
George  B.  Sloan,  Oswego  county ;  J.  W.  Hoysradt, 
Columbia  county ;  E.  F.  Reilly,  New  York ;  Assem- 
blymen T.  J.  Hardin,  Albany  county;  John  B.  Van 
Pelt,  Herkimer  county;  John  E.  Gillette,  Columbia 
county;  A.  L.  Schermerhorn,  Columbia  county; 
Isaac  L.  Hunt,  jr.,  Jefferson  county;  John  J.  Piatt, 
Dutchess  county;  D.  Beckman,  Schoharie  county; 
Jas.  Shanahan,  Montgomery  county;  James  R.  Snell, 
Montgomery  county:  William  I.  Perry,  Washington 
county;    George  M.  Voorhees,  Montgomery  county; 

D.  M.  Westfall,  Washington  county;  John  M.  Kim- 
ball, Albany  county ;  Henry  D.  Hotchkiss,  Kings 
county;  Homer  N.  Lockwood,  Cayuga  county; 
James  D.  Decker,  Sullivan  county;   Benjamin   Hall, 

386 


Oneida  county;  Aaron  B.  Pratt,  Albany  county;  L. 
C.  G,  Kshinka,  Albany  county ;  Amos  Miller,  Col- 
umbia county;  Tobias  Buck,  Schoharie  county;  J. 
F.  Crawford,  Albany  county ;  James  Oliver,  New 
York ;   Thomas  Liddle,  Montgomery  county. 


The  Municipal  Reception. 

brilliant   scenes   in  the   magnificent    senate 
chamber — the  distinguished  guests  present. 

The  municipal  reception  was  held  in  the  evening  in 
the  senate  chamber  in  honor  of  President  Cleveland 
and  Secretaries  Manning,  Bayard  and  Whitney,  and  was 
the  most  pleasant  kind  of  an  informal  gathering.  The 
seats  of  the  senators  and  reporters  had  been  removed, 
leaving  the  entire  room  unobstructed  for  the  occasion. 
Palms  and  ferns  decorated  the  lieutenant-governor's 
desk  as  well  as  the  clerks'  circle,  giving  a  tropical 
appearance  to  the  room.  Shortly  after  nine  o'clock 
the  President  and  ex-Mayor  A,  Bleecker  Banks 
appeared,  followed  by  Secretaries  Manning,  Bay- 
ard and  Whitney  and  Governor  Hill  and  staff  and 
Mayor  Thacher.  The  President,  looking  unchanged 
since  his  residence  in  Washington,  seemed  in  the  best 
of  humor,  and  received  his  many  Albany  friends  with 
a  warmth  of  greeting  characteristic  of  his  easy  man- 
ner. For  over  an  hour  and  a  half  the  stream  of 
callers  continued,  and  included  State  officials,  mem- 
bers and  ex-members  of  the  Legislature  and  prominent 
guests  of  the  city. 


387 


DISTINGUISHED  PERSONS  PRESENT, 
The  President  stood  directly  in  front  of  the  clerk's 
desk.  On  his  left  stood  Mayor  Thatcher,  and  to  his 
right  Governor  Hill  and  Secretaries  Bayard  and  Whit- 
ney. Back  of  him  were  Hon.  Francis  Kernan,  Col. 
Daniel  S.  Lamont  and  Lieutenant-Governor  Jones. 
Among  the  distinguished  out-of-town  guests  and  state 
officers  were  Hon.  John  B.  Manning,  of  Buffalo  ;  Sec- 
retary of  State  Cook,  Comptroller  Alfred  C.  Chapin, 
Attorney-General  O'Brien,  Superintendent  of  Insur- 
ance Robert  A.  Maxwell,  Forestry  Commissioner 
Townsend  Cox,  ex-Judge  of  the  Court  of  Claims 
Lyman  H.  Northrup,  ex-Senator  Edward  F.  Esty, 
Senators  Henry  J.  Coggeshall,  Edward  Wemple, 
Amasa  J.  Parker,  jr.,  John  Raines,  Assemblymen 
Alden  W.  Berry,  Terence  L  Hardin,  A.  G.  Allen, 
Colonel  Samuel  J.Tilden,  jr.,  Judge  George  M.  Beebe, 
Judge  Alton  B.  Parker,  Gen.  Newton  M.  Curtis, 
Adjutant-General  Josiah  Porter,  General  James  W. 
Husted,  Charles  C.  Ely,  of  Owego,  Assemblymen 
Little  and  Charles  M.  Titus,  Regent  Daniel  Beach, 
William  H.  McElroy,  Deputy  Attorney-Generals  E. 
G.  Whittaker  and  Charles  F.  Tabor,  Judge  Charles  R. 
Miller,  Judge  William  L.  Mueller. 

The  attendance  of  gentlemen  from  Albany  in- 
cluded :  P^x-Mayor  A.  B.  Banks,  Robert  D.  Williams, 
J.  Townsend  Lansing,  Simon  W.  Rosendale,  Alderman 
Hitt,  Dr.  Lewis  Balch,  Dr.  Samuel  B.  Ward,  William 
H.  Johnson,  Frederick  C.  Manning,  Hon.  D.  Cady 
Herrick,  John  E.  McElroy,  Judge  Amasa  J.  Parker, 
Herman  H.  Russ,  Rev.  Joseph  Paige  Davis,  William  H. 
Haskell,  Scott  D'M.  Goodwin,  Irving  F.  Cragin,  Dr. 

-,88 


John  B.  Stonehouse,  William  W.  Hill,  John  G.  Mc- 
Elroy,  Colonel  John  S.  McEwan,  Captain  McKeever, 
L.  C.  G.  Kshinka,  Albert  Goodwin,  George  Douglass 
Miller,  Nathaniel  C.  Moak,  Hon.  A.  B.  Pratt,  W.  W. 
Crannell,  Monroe  Crannell,  Dr.  Albert  L.  Watkins, 
Isaac  Schell,  Goodwin  Brown,  Hugh  Reilly,  Mark 
Cohn,  Hon.  Andrew  Hamilton. 

RECEPTION   AT   THE   FORT   ORANGE   CLUB. 

The  subjoined  invitation  had  been  quite  generally 
distributed:  "Fort  Orange  club,  reception.  The  honor 
of  your  company  is  requested  at  the  club-house,  on 
Thursday  evening,  July  22,  1886,  from  nine  until 
twelve  o'clock.  Bi-centennial  day  of  the  city  of 
Albany,  1686-1886." 

A  very  delightful  reception  was  so  given  to  Presi- 
dent Cleveland  and  Governor  Hill  at  the  Fort  Orange 
club  at  the  conclusion  of  the  public  reception  to  the 
President  in  the  senate  chamber.  It  was  half  past  ten 
when  the  President  left  the  capitol,  and  on  his  arrival 
at  the  club-house  he  found  most  of  the  members  had 
already  assembled.  The  reception  here  was  of  an 
entirely  informal  character,  and  the  invited  guests 
included  only  gentlemen  of  prominence  visiting  in 
the  city.  No  ladies  were  present,  and  if  the  scene 
lost  the  charm  of  their  conversation  and  the  brilliancy 
of  their  toilets,  it  was  made  necessary  by  the  limited 
time  at  the  disposal  of  the  President.  An  orchestra 
rendered  appropriate  selections  during  the  evening, 
and  the  decorations  were  artistically  designed  and 
excellently  carried  out.  After  all  present  had  paid 
their  respects  to  the  eminent  guests,  in  whose  honor 

389 


the  reception  was  given,  the  President  and  Governor 
were  ushered  into  the  supper  room,  where  an  elabo- 
rate collation  was  served.  The  table  was  decorated 
with  the  exquisite  art  which  has  made  this  club 
famous  wherever  its  hospitality  is  known.  Flowers 
and  ferns  served  to  bring  out  in  stronger  relief  the 
glitter  of  the  crystal  and  silver  and  the  beauty  of  the 
viands.  One  novel  feature  in  the  decoration  was  the 
individual  bouquet  holders  at  each  plate.  These  were 
in  the  form  of  lions,  of  porcelain,  drawing  a  small 
vase  upon  wheels.  On  the  face  of  the  vase  was  an 
excellent  photographic  likeness  of  President  Cleve- 
land. All  of  the  guests  preserved  these  holders  as 
mementoes  of  the  occasion. 

THE  GUESTS. 
Among  the  invited  guests  present  were  Secretaries 
Bayard  and  Whitney,  Senator  J.  W.  Hoysradt,  ex- 
Senator  Edward  F.  Esty,  Governor  Hill's  staff,  in 
uniform  ;  Gen.  R.  S.  Oliver  and  his  staff,  in  uniform  ; 
Dairy  Commissioner  J.  K.  Brown,  ex-Mayor  Murphy, 
of  Troy ;  Congressman  Timothy  J.  Campbell,  of 
New  York ;  Assemblyman  John  I.  Piatt,  of  Pough- 
keepsie  ;  Hon.  William  E.  Smith,  of  Plattsburgh  ; 
ex-Minister  to  France  Levi  P.  Morton,  of  New  York ; 
Assemblyman  Hotchkiss,  of  Brooklyn  ;  Hon.  Henry 
S.  Hyde,  ex-Governor  Eliphalet  Trask  and  Henry  F. 
Trask,  of  Springfield  ;  J.  V.  Newcomb  and  W.  W. 
Newcomb,  of  New  York ;  Edgar  Wendell  and  S.  O. 
Gleason,  of  Troy  ;  Killian  Van  Rensselaer  and  ex- 
Assemblyman  James  Oliver,  of  New  York:  ex-Speaker 
Titus  Sheard,  of  Little  Falls;    Civil  Service  Commis- 


390 


missioner  Augustus  Schoonmaker  of  Kingston  ;  Dr. 
Grinnell,  of  Burlington,  Vt.  ;  Assemblyman  N.  M. 
Curtis,  Judge  Hooper  C.  Van  Vorst,  of  New  York ; 
ex-Sentor  John  Van  Schaick,  of  Cobleskill ;  William 
Richardson,  of  New  York ;  Senator  Francis  Hen- 
dricks, of  Syracuse ;  Assemblyman  S.  D.  Leverick, 
of  Seneca  county ;  Regent  Daniel  Beach  of  Watkins  ; 
Deputy  State  Treasurer  Eliott  Danforth,  of  Bain- 
bridge  ;  Senator  Andrew  C.  Stone,  of  Massachusetts  ; 
O.  Carleton  Sunde,  and  J.  C.  Elliott,  of  the  New 
York  Daily  Press ;  Mayor  Joseph  M.  Johnson,  of 
Binghamton,  and  many  others. 

Among  the  members  of  the  club  present  were  the 
following:  Richard  L.  Annesley,  C.  E.  Argensinger, 
J.  M.  Bailey,  Lewis  Balch,  A.  Bleecker  Banks,  Robert 
Lenox  Banks,  Edwin  C.  Baxter,  D.  C.  Bennett, 
Edward  Bowditch,  J.  P.  Boyd,  John  E.  Bradley,  Jonas 
H.  Brooks,  W.  Howard  Brown,  Charles  J.  Buchanan, 
W.  VV.  Byington,  William  R.  Cassidy,  E.  T.  Cham- 
berlain, Ledyard  Cogswell,  Erastus  Corning,  E. 
Countryman,  William  H.  Craig,  Charles  G.  Craft, 
Paul  Cushman,  Harry  C.  Cushman,  Walter  Dickson, 
James  K.  Dunscomb,  J.  G.  Farnsworth,  Douw  H. 
Fonda,  R.  W.  Gibson,  Anthony  Gould,  William  Gould, 
jr.,  F.  E.  Griswold,  E.  F.  Hackett,  Matthew  Hale, 
Henry  Hun,  Marcus  T.  Hun,  Charles  E  Jones,  Frank- 
lin Jones,  Wm.  Kidd,  Howard  J.  King,  Rufus  H.  King, 
Leonard  Kip,  Abraham  Lansing,  E.  J.  Larrabee,  W.  L. 
Learned,  Daniel  Leonard,  Henry  C.  Littlefield,  Charles 
C.  Lodewick,  Thomas  McCredie,  jr.,  James  McCredie, 
John  McDonald,  John  McEwen,  James  McNaughton, 
W.  E.  Millbank,  Peyton  F.  Miller,  Samuel  L.  Munson, 


391 


Elijah  W.  Murphy,  John  G.  Myers,  Edward  Newcomb, 
Dudley  Olcott,  Robert  S.  Oliver,  Amasa  J.  Parker, 
Amasa  J.  Parker  jr.,  John  D.  Parsons,  jr.,  R.  W. 
Peckham,  John  S.  Perry,  John  T.  Perry,  H.  R.  Pierson, 
jr.,  Jesse  W.  Potts,  J.  V.  L.  Pruyn,  J.  H.  Quinby, 
Clarence  Rathbone,  John  F.  Rathbone,  J.  H.  Rice, 
S.  W.  Rosendale,  Grange  Sard,  Charles  G.  Saxe, 
Frank  J.  Saxe,  John  A.  Sleicher,  H.  E.  Sickels,  N.  E. 
Sisson,  Edwy  L.  Taylor,  Henry  J.  Ten  Eyck,  J.  H. 
Ten  Eyck,  John  B.  Thacher,  Lemon  Thompson,  J 
W.  Tillinghast,  E.  B.  Tcedt,  S.  B.  Towner,  Frederick 
Townsend,  James  F.  Tracey,  Charles  Tracey,  Luther 
H.  Tucker,  T.  J.  Van  Alstyne,  J.  H.  Van  Antwerp, 
R.  L.  Vandenburgh,  W.  B.  Van  Rensselaer,  A.  Van 
Vechten,  A.  Van  Vechten,  jr.,  Samuel  B.  Ward,  J. 
M.  Warner,  James  D.  Wasson,  George  S.  Weaver, 
D.  W.  Wemple,  W.  M.  Whitney,  W.  M.  Whitney,  jr., 
Robert  D.  Williams,  James  C.  Wing,  Albert  J.  Wing, 
James  Otis  Woodward,  Edwin  Young. 

THE  DEPARTURE  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 
The  festivities  were  hardly  opened  when  the  Presi- 
dent was  obliged  to  make  his  adieus  to  his  hosts  of 
the  evening.  Shortly  after  midnight,  with  Secretaries 
Bayard  and  Whitney  and  Private  Secretary  Lamont, 
he  left  the  club-house  amid  the  heartiest  god-speeds. 
He  was  driven  to  the  West  Shore  depot,  where  a 
special  train  was  waiting  to  carry  him  to  Washington. 
President  Cleveland  expressed  himself  as  delighted 
with  his  brief  visit.  He  always  cherished  the  fondest 
memories  of  Albany,  and  was  both  surprised  and 
pleased  to  see  the  royal  and  enthusiastic  manner  in 


392 


which  her  Bi-centennial  was  celebrated.  Secretaries 
Bayard  and  Whitney  also  declared  themselves  charmed 
with  the  hospitality  of  the  city. 

The  Pyrotechnic  Display, 
a  vast  conxourse  of  fifty  thousand. 

The  spectacle  witnessed  at  Washington  park  at 
night  possessed  merit  and  attraction  for  every  one. 
No  better  spectacle  had  ever  been  seen  in  Albany. 
A  crowd  of  immense  proportions  greeted  the  first 
rocket  with  cheers.  Long  before  the  time  for  the  affair 
to  commence  a  crowd  surged  around  the  ropes  strung 
up  to  enclose  the  space  set  apart  for  the  pieces.  A 
careful  estimate  showed  that  there  were  fully  fifty 
thousand  people  who  witnessed  the  scene.  The  police 
had  the  greatest  difficulty  in  keeping  people  out  of 
the  enclosure  long  enough  to  get  started.  Only  by 
telling  those  next  to  the  ropes  that  they  were  in  great 
danger  could  the  crowd  be  kept  back.  At  first  only 
the  common  council,  the  police  and  the  press  were 
allowed  to  go  within  the  rope,  but  this  bound  was 
soon  overstepped.  By  dark  everything  was  in  perfect 
readiness,  all  the  pieces  mounted  and  set,  and  no 
delay  was  experienced  in  getting  the  display  started. 
The  first  pieces,  though  of  minor  importance,  called 
forth  immense  applause.  The  shells  began  their 
flight  into  the  air,  and  when  the  showers  of  beautiful 
colored  balls  of  fire,  the  gold  rain,  the  floating  animals 
commenced  to  be  evolved  from  them,  the  crowds 
settled  down  to  enjoy  the  scene. 


393 


The  four  great  pieces,  Dongan  handing  the  charter 
to  Schuyler,  the  landing  of  Hendrick  Hudson,  the 
city  coat-of-arms,  and  Niagara  Falls,  were  excellent. 
Their  beauty  cannot  be  told.  Raised  up  at  a  height 
of  forty  feet,  they  could  easily  be  seen  by  every  one. 
The  applause  for  them  was  universal.  The  different 
displays  numbered  one  hundred  and  seven. 

After  the  spectacle  was  ended  the  vast  crowd  started 
down  the  hills.  All  the  avenues  leading  in  that 
direction  were  blocked  for  an  hour  and  a  half. 


394 


Subscribers  to  the  Bi-centennial  Fund. 


1886. 


Albany  Burgesses  Corps $100 

Albany  City  National   Bank..  250 

.\merican  Express  Company.  250 

Albany  &  Troy  Steamboat  Co.  350 

Albany  City  Band 50 

"Albany  Evening  Times"'  (T. 

(C.  Callicot) 100 

American   Hotel 100 

Anteman,   W.  F 5 

Albany  Insurance    Company,  125 

Annesley  &  Co 50 

Albany  County  Bank 250 

Albany  Railway  Comjiany...  250 

Albany  Card  &'  Paper  Co 50 

Adelphi  Club 25 

Aaron  Lodge,  No.  64 15 

Albany  City  Lodge,  No.  68..  10 

Albany  P.  W.  Paper  Co 20 

.\lbany  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 

Company 125 

Albany  Electric  Illu'ating  Co.  250 

Allmny  Pharmaceutical  Co...  50 

Amsdell  Brothers 200 

Albany  Safe  Deposit  Co 25 

Anderson,  G.  W 5 

Albany  Stove  Company 25 

"Alpha  Sigma" 50 

Andrews,  Horace 10 

"Argus  Company  " 100 

Armour  &  Company 50 

Auer,  Louis 3 

Austin,  Thomas 10 

Ahern,  James  E 50 

Barry,  J  ohn  .A. 50 

Barber,  Fletcher 10 

Bacon,  Stickney  &  Company,  lOO 

Battersby,    John 10 

Ball,  Day  toil  &  Co 25 

Brainard  &  Shepard 10 

Brannigan,  John 10 

Banks,  Robert  Lennox lOO 

Banks  Brothers 100 

Barnet  Brothers  &  Aufsesser,  15 

Bates  &  Johnson 10 

Baldwin,  ISrvson 5 

Ballard,   S.  .M 25 

Brady,   A.  N lOO 

Barnes,  T.  \V 25 

Bradt,  S.   C 5 

Bailey,   Dr.   \V.  H lo 


Bradbury,    E.  K $10 

Bailly,  J.  P 5 

Baxter,  E.  C 3 

Bradley,  John  E 10 

Barnes,  Wdliani 25 

Brady,  James  N 25 

Bellvidere  Hotel 100 

Brennan,  James 50 

liensen,  A.    V 25 

l^entley,   C.   W 2 

Birch,  George  .\.  &   Co 25 

Benedict,   E.  G 25 

Bleecker  &  Corcoran 10 

Beckford,  C.  A 2 

Bridge,    Charles 10 

Bender,  H.  H 5 

Bishop,  T.  J 10 

Bedell,  E.  A 5 

Belden,  George  D $3.82 

Brown,  Luddington  &  Co 20 

Boughton  &  Vine 10 

Bondy,  L.  &  Bro 5 

Boss,    Lewis 25 

Bloomingdale,    P 2 

Boyd  &  Company. 25 

Bonsilate   Button  Company..  15 

Boardman  &   Gray 5 

Blocksidge,  James 5 

Boyd,  James  P 10 

Brunswick    Hotel 75 

Byrne,  R.  H 5 

Bull,  M.  V.  B 25 

Burdette-Coutts  Association . .  25 

Buchanan,  C.  J 5 

Burlingame,  Eugene 5 

Boyce  &  Milwain 25 

Bryce,  Robert 20 

Burgess,  W.  T.   &  Son 10 

Cleveland    Brothers 25 

Craft,  Charles  G 50 

Capron,  W.  J 5 

Crannell,  Monroe 5 

Carr,  Frederick 10 

Chase  &  Delehanty 10 

Chand^erlain,  Eugene  T 20 

Crannell,  W.  W 5 

Crane,  I.   K 5 

Clark,  W.  G 5 

Cash 25 

Cash 10 


395 


Cash $1 

Cash lo 

Cash lo 

Cash 5 

Cash 5 

Cash 5 

Cash lo 

Cash 5 

Cash 5 

Cottrell  &  Leonard 25  j 

Converse,  F.  &  Son 10  I 

Crocker  Sc  Efiler 50  | 

Commerce  Insurance  Co 1251 

Cohn,    Jacob 20! 

Cooper,  T.  C 1 5  I 

Cook,   Adam  &  Son 20} 

Corning,   Erastus 250  ! 

Cohn,   Gilbert 15' 

Crounse,  D.  J 5 

Cox,  J.  W 10  I 

Clute,  VV.  L 2  I 

Cluett  &  Sons 25' 

Cushman  &  Company 100  j 

Cunningham,   VV.  J 10 

Cutler,  T.  R 2 

Delaware  &  Hud.  Canal  Co..  1,000  ; 

Day  Line  Steamboats 100  I 

Delavan  House 350  i 

Devine,  Thomas  J 50  : 

Dey  Ermand,  Wm 50  j 

Dickson,   W.   J.,  Ji" 5; 

Dearstyne,  C.  F 10  ' 

Deitz,   Lewis 10' 

Day,   John    H 251 

De   Witt,  A.V 20 

Davenport,   S.J 5 

Delehanty,   M."&  Son 25 

Devine,  J.    H 5 

De  Witt,  Ira 5J 

Dawson,  George  S.  Post 101 

Davidson,   G.  G 10  ! 

Danaher,  Franklin  M 5^ 

Dwight,    Harvey  A 10 

Dorr,  Henry 50 

Dumary  &  Farrell 50 

Dobler  Brewery 100 

Dun,  R.  G.,  &  Co 25 

Dyer,    Bradbury 25 

Doane,   Rt.  Rev.  Wm.  C 10  ! 

Dunham,  J.  W.  &  Co 20 

Durant,    E.    P 10' 

Dugan,  John 151 

Evertsen,   Evert 5 

Exchange  Bank,  Nat'l 250 ! 


Easton,  C.  P.  &  Co $25 

"  Express,  Morning  " 100 

Eichenbroner,   1 5 

Engel,  E 5 

Eyres  &  Co.,  H.  G 10 

First  National  Bank,  Albany,  250 

Fitzpatrick,  Dominick 50 

Fearey  Manufacturing  Co 25 

French,  W.  B 5 

"  Female  Lundy  Society  "...  25 

Freeman,  W.  F 25 

Fearey,  Joseph  &  Son 25 

Fleischmann  &  Co 23 

Fisher,  Joseph 5 

Fonda,   Douw   H 50 

Fort  Orange  Brewing  Co 100 

Fort,  P.  V^  &  Company 25 

Fort  Orange  Club 250 

Fuller  &  Wheeler 10 

Fonda,  Jolin 5 

Fuld  &  Bocklowitz 15 

Flynn,   Wm.   J 10 

Fryer,    Robert  L 25 

Germania  Hotel 75 

Garrity,  John  J 50 

Gannon,  John  G 10 

Gideon  Lodge 25 

Granger   &  Story 100 

Gaus,  C.   H 5 

Gay  &  Quinby 25 

Gregory,  Geo.   Stuart 5 

Gick  &  Sayles 10 

Gazeley,  James 25 

Gips  &  Bro.,  E 10 

Gray,    S.    R 25 

Gregory,   C.   D 10 

Geer,  Robert 20 

Gibson,    R.    W 10 

Globe  Hotel 100 

Gloeckner,  S 5 

Goldsmith,  S 2 

Guion,   William 5 

Goold,  J.  &  Co 25 

Gould,  "Wm.  Jr.  &  Co 25 

Gould,  Anthony 50 

Gomph,   William  C 2 

Guthmann  &  Bro.,  R 10 

Groesbeck,  .\.  E 25 

Hackett,    Edward   F 50 

Hackett,  T.  M.    &  Company,  20 

Hale  &   Bulkley 25 

Harris,  Hamilton 20 

Harris,  Samuel  C 5 

Hall,   Parker 10 


396 


Hickey,S.  M $750 

Heiser,   M.  &  Co 10 

Hein,    Morris 20 

Hinckle,  F. ,  estate 250 

Hendrick,   James 25 

Heusted,  A.  B 5 

Hedrick,  John  F 50 

Hill,    D.    B 10 

Hess,    Isban 10 

Hamlin,  C.  J 5 

Hobbs,  E.  A 5 

Hodgkins,  S.  C 5 

Howell,   E.  W 10 

Hotaling,  L 10 

Hoy,  John 10 

"  Huylers  " 25 

Hussey,  W.  M 10 

Hutman,  John  S 5 

Hyatt,  Chas.   .M 5 

Hudson  Valley  Paper  Co 25 

Hun,  M.  T 25 

Hun,  L.  G 25 

Hurlburt,  G.  D.  W 2 

Hydeman,   M.  M 10 

Huyck  &  Argersinger 25 

Hughson  &  Company 50 

Hun,  Thomas 25 

Hun,  Dr.    Henry 15 

Hunter,   H.  Hoff 5 

Isaacs,  J 2 

Industrial  School 125 

Johnston  &  Reilly 250 

"Journal   Company" 100 

Johnston,  W.  S.  &  Bro 50 

Jones,  Charles   E 25 

Johnson  &  Johnson 25 

Johnson,  B.  W 5 

Jermain,  James   B 20 

Kenmore   Hotel 200 

Keeler,  John 1 00 

Keeler,  W.  H 25 

King,  Rufus  H 250 

King,  J.  Howard 250 

Kinnear,    Peter 25 

Kip,   Leonard 10 

Killeen,   William   M 5 

King,   \V.  H 10 

Laventall,  J 10 

Livingston,  W.    H 25 

Levy,   S.  &  Bro 5 

Lansing,  J.  Townsend 50 

Lansing,  Charles  B 150 

Leonard  &  Youngman 25 

Larrabee,  E.  J.  &  Co 50 


Lee,   James $2 

Lewis,   R.  P.  &  Son 25 

"  Legislative  Ball  Match  "...  32 

Littlefield,  H.  C 10 

Lansing,    A 5° 

Little,  W.  C.  &   Co 25 

Lawrence  &  Stewart 5 

La  Grange,    S.  D 10 

Learned,  Wm.   L 25 

Lawson,  Isaac 5 

Lawson,  J.  M 5 

Lansing,  Richard 10 

Liscomb,   O.  P 10 

Lansing,  E.  Y 5 

Lansing,  G.  Y 5 

La  Moure,   U.   B.,  Dr 10 

Lawrence  R.  &  Bro 10 

Lord,  E.  J 5 

Lyon,  J.  B.  &  Co 5 

Lodge,  Gideon 25 

Long  &  Silsby lO 

Mechanics  &  Farmers'  Bank,  250 

Merchants'  National  Bank...  250 

Meneely,  George  R 25 

Mather  Bros lOO 

Mansion  House 5° 

Messenger   House 50 

Mitchell,   William 50 

Mack  &  Company 5*^ 

Miller,  L.  &  Bro 5 

-Marshall  &  Wendell  Piano  Co.  50 

Mann,  Waldman  &  Co 5° 

Mix,  James 25 

Marvin,    S.   E 25 

Miller,  G.  D 5 

Mead,  J.  H.  &  F.  A 10 

Mayell,  II.  &  Son 20 

Mills,  C.  H 5 

Mead  &  Halt 10 

Marsh  &  Hoffman 25 

Meegan,  E.  J 25 

Miller,  A.   R 5 

Manning,  James   H 25 

Mattoon  &  Robinson 25 

Miller,  S.  Ed.,  Jr 5 

Marx   Brothers 25 

Miller,  Charles,  |r 5 

Miller,  Wm.  D.". 5 

Merrill,  C.  S 10 

Mills,  Arthur  D 5 

Martin,  E.  P 10 

McElveny,   D 25 

McKinney,  J.  &  Son 100 

McClure,  Archibald 100 


397 


McElroy,  J.  E $25 

McCredie,   Thomas 50 

McCurdy,   John  A 25 

McArdle,  John 5 

McNamara,   M.  G 10 

McClure,  W.   H 25 

McArdle,   P.   J 25 

Mc  Hench,  D.  B 10 

McCall,  H.  S.,   Jr 5 

McHugh,  J.  H 5 

McQuade,  James 25 

McEwen,  John 10 

McHaflie,  L.,  Miss 5 

McDonough,  M 10 

McKinlay  &  Co 25 

McElroy,  James 5 

Mount  Vernon  Lodge 50 

Moore,  R.  H.  &  Zimmerman,  25 

Mordecai  Lodge,  No.  96 10 

Morris,  R.  S 10 

Moir,  James 25 

Morange,  J.   W 10 

Munson,  S.  L 50 

Myers,  John  G 250 

Municipal  Gas  Company 250 

Muller,   W.   L.  (Elmira) 25 

N.  Y.  State  National  Bank..  250 

National   Commercial  Bank..  250 

Newman,  Charles 25 

Newman,  John  L 25 

Nusbaum,  Myer 5 

Nott,  John  C 25 

N.  Y.  Cen.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co..  1,000 

National  Express  Company..  loo 

Nellis,  T.  W 10 

Nichols,  W.    R 5 

Olcott,  Dudley 250 

O'Brien,    D.  A 50 

O'Byrne,  T.   E 50 

O'Brien,   B 5 

Olcott,  John  T 150 

Odell,  J.  W.". 10 

O'Leary,    D.  V 10 

Order  of  the  Iron  Hall 25 

O'Brien,    Philip 10 

Ortton,  John 5 

Parsons,  S.  H 25 

Patterson,  H 2 

Perry  &  Company 100 

Page,  Isaiah  &  Son 25 

Pratt,  James  H 100 

Peckham,  R.  W 25 

Palmer,   John 10 

"  Press  and   Knickerliocker  "  225 


Parker,  A.  J.,  Jr $25 

Parker,  Amasa  J 25 

Patton  &  Company 25 

Patterson,    P.   J 10 

Prentice,  E.   P.,  estate 100 

Payn's,  B.  Son 5 

Parsons,  J.  D 5 

People's  Line  Boats 500 

Pladwell,  J.  &  Son 5 

Paige,  Leonard 3 

Pruyn,  Robert  C 250 

Pohly  &  Company 25 

Price,  Joseph  J 25 

Pruyn,   Charles   L lOO 

Pierson,   H.    R 50 

Pike  &  Capron 50 

Potts,  Jesse  C 20 

Pruyn,  J.  V.  L 25 

Public  School  25 $3-75 

l^orter,  C.  H 10 

Pohlman,    J.    D 50 

Quinn,    B 5 

Quinn  &  Nolan 500 

Quinn,  James 10 

Quayle,  R.   K 30 

Quinby,  John    H 25 

Rathbone,  Clarence 25 

Rathbone,  Sard  &  Co 100 

Raynsford,  G.  W ID 

Reed  &  Knickerbocker 25 

Rathbun,  J.  &  Co 100 

Read,  Harmon  P 20 

Rawson  &  Colburn 25 

Reese,  Rev.  J.  L 10 

Reilly  &  Hamilton 25 

Rooney,  James  W 50 

Russell,  Henry 25 

Roach,  Mrs.  James 25 

Rosendale,    S.  \V 25 

Russell,  Geo.   L 10 

Russell,  Joseph  W 25 

Rowland,    Henry 20 

Ronan,  Patrick 25 

Ronan,  E.  D 15 

Romeyn,    T.  F 5 

Rol)bins,  John  S ID 

Rodgers  &  Ruso 15 

Ruggles,  W.  B 10 

Russ,  H.  H 10 

Robinson  &  Dayton 10 

Stan wix    Hall 1 50 

Sautter,   L 10 

.Stark,  B.  &  Co 50 

Sanders,  G.  V.  S 25 


398 


Strasser,  M,  &  Company $20 

Saul,  Julius 50 

Strain,  Robert 5 

Sage,  H.  W.  &  Co 100 

Shaw  &  Robinson 10 

Shattuck,   J.  A 10 

Sanders,  B.  &  J.  B 20 

Sanders,  Jacob  G 50 

Sweney,  P.  J 2 

Sleeping  Car  Co.,  N.  Y.  C. ..  300 
Stedman,    Thompson   &   An- 
drews    25 

Stevens,  J.  W 25 

Schell,    E 10 

Stevens,  Ed 5 

Stevens,  George  H 5 

Stevens,   Thomas 10 

Seaman,  J,  F 3 

Stevens,  A.  P 10 

Speir,  S.   T 3 

Stewart,  CM 5 

Strevel,  W.  D 10 

Stephenson,  Samuel 10 

Scherer,  R.  G 5 

Schermerhorn,   B.   S 5 

Stevens,  Samuel 10 

Smith,  Henry  L 25 

Skinner,  John  W 25 

Shiloh  Lodge,  I.  O.  B.  B....  25 

Shields,    Frank 50 

Skinner  &  Arnold 25 

Sickles  &  Miller 25 

Simpson,    Alex 10 

Smith,  Craig  &  Company 25 

Smith,    Cornelius 10 

Smith,  Covert  &  Co 25 

Shoemaker  &  Pabst 25 

Strong,  Wm.   N 50 

Spoor,  C.  T.  P' 10 

Sporborg,  Joseph,  &  Son 20 

Sumner,  Clias.,  Benefit  Ass'n,  25 

Sumner  &  Hascy 100 

Sullivan  &  Ehlers 25 

Stone  &  Shanks 25 

Snow,  H.  N 5 

St.  Agnes'  School 25 

Schuyler,  Samuel 50 

Schuster,  Harry 10 

Tenth  Regiment  Band 25 

Treadwell  &  Co 250 

Thacher,  John   Boyd 100 

Thacher,  George  H.,  Jr 100 

Ten  Eyck,  J.  H 20 

Tracey,    Charles 50 


Thacher,  R.  W $10 

Tracey,  Wilson  &  Co 25 

Taylor,  J.   E.  &  Company...  10 

Tremper,  Captain  J.  H 25 

Tebbutts,  M.  Sons 10 

Thieson,  J.  L 5 

TiUinghast,  J.  W 25 

Toedt,  E.  B 25 

Townsend,   Franklin 50 

Townsend,  Rufus  K 25 

Townsend,   Frederick 50 

Tucker,  L.  &  Son 25 

Thornton,   William 5 

Turner,  H.  L 5 

Townsend,  J.  D.   P 5 

Townsend,   Theo 5 

Thomson,  L.  &  Company 25 

Towner,  Samuel  B 25 

Tibbits,  Bleecker 20 

Trask,  Spencer  &  Co 100 

Tucker,  Willis  G 10 

Thorn,  R.  P.  &  Son 10 

Union  Clothing  Company  ...  50 

Underhill,  E 2 

Van  Heusen,  Charles  &  Co..  25 

Van  Gaasbeek,   A.  B.  &  Co..  25 

Van  Benthuysen,  C 50 

Van  Antwerp,  ].  H 50 

Valkenburgh,  S.  M.  &Co...  15 

Van  Antwerp,  D..  L 20 

Van  Denburgh,  R.  L 50 

Van  Antwerp,  William  M 25 

Vrooman,  Sanford lO 

Viele,  M.  E 50 

Van  Slyke,  G.  A.  &  Co 50 

Van  Wormer,    J 25 

Visscher,  John  B 20 

Van  Vechten,  Abm 20 

Van  Vliet,  Dudley 10 

Van  Der  Veer,  A 25 

Vint,  James lo 

Van  Rensselaer,  William  B..  100 

Van  Alstyne,  J.  B 5 

Van  Allen,  C.  H 5 

Van  Rensselaer,  P lo 

Van  Ness,  Edward 500 

Van  Allen,  G.  A 25 

Van  Gaasbeek,  W 5 

Van  Alstyne,  W.  C 5 

Vrooman,   J.    H 5 

Van  Rensselaer,  heirs  W.  P. .  100 

Walsh,  William  E.  &  Son...  50 

Waldman,  S.  M 10 

Ward,  Samuel  B 25 


399 


Watervliet  T.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co. 

Wadhams,   F.  E 

Ward.W.  J 

Waterman,  J.  &  Son 

Walter,  Joseph 

Walker,  J.    E 

Washburn,  H.  L.,  Jr 

Ward,  C.  M 

Weller,  Anton 

Wendell,  C.  E.   &  Co 

Weed,  Parsons  &  Co 

Weaver,  George  S 

Weaver,  William  J 

Wheeler,  C.  F 

Wemple,  D.  W 

Weber,  George 

Weaver,  W.  U.  Sc  Co 

Wendell,  J.  I 

Weir  &  Chism 

Weidman  &  Kelly 

Western  Union  Tel.  Co 

Wheeler,  F.  F 

Whitney,  W.  M.  &  Co 

Wilson  &  Gross 

"  Windsor,  The  " 


Wilson,  Lansing  &  Co $50 

Wright,  H.  K 5 


White,  J.  G.  &Co. 

White,  Isaac  &  Sons,  Co 


50 
25 


Wilber,    R.  G 10 

Wiley,  Ignatius 

Winchell  &  Davis 


10 

25 


iIOO 

5 
15 
25 
10 

25 
10 

5    Williams,  R.  D 25 

20    Winne,  C.  H 10 

25 
100 

25 
10 
10 

25 
15 
25 
10 
10 
25 
25 
5 
250 

25 
100 


White,  D.  S.  &  Co 25 

Whitney,    S.   W 3 

Winship,  W.  F 5 

Whitney,  W.   M.,  Jr 10 

Wing,  R.  B 20 

Wickham,  Richard 5 

Willard,  Thomas 10 

Woodward  &  Hill 10 

Woodruff,  C.  L 10 

Woolverton,  George  A 20 

Woodward,  James  O 25 

Wooster,  F.   &  Co 25 

Woodruff,   W.  H.  D 5 

Yerks,  George  W 20 

Young,  H.  G 25 

Zelie,  Rufus 50 


400 


THE    FLAGS    OF    ALBANY. 


From  time  immemorial,  flags  have  been  used  to 
determine  rank,  to  mark  organization,  and  to  distin- 
guish tribe  and  nationahty. 

At  first  they  were  personal  to  the  king,  commander 
or  chief,  or  local  with  reference  to  district  or  tribal 
relations,  and  only  national  when  they  represented 
symbolically  the  religion  or  the  gods  of  the  people 
who  fought  under  them. 

In  battle  they  were  rallying  points  for  defence  or 
attack. 

In  time  some  particular  emblem  having  been  con- 
nected with  deeds  of  national  valor,  or  historical  from 
association  or  tradition,  or  being  the  insignia  of  a 
conquering  tribe  or  chieftain  came  to  be  recog- 
nized as  the  symbol  of  the  country,  a  representation 
of  its  power  and  majesty  to  be  guarded  with  reverence, 
to  be  defended  to  death,  and  so  personal  that  an 
insult  offered  to  it  was  and  is  considered  an  insult  to 
the  people  whom  it  represented  and  a  casus  belli  at 
all  times. 

This  idea  of  the  personality  of  a  flag  and  as 
standing  for  the  people  who  adopted  it,  best  finds 
expression  in  modern  times,  in  national  apologies 
being  made  by  saluting  the  flag  of  the  nation  to 
whom  reparation  is  due ;  by  indicating  surrender  by 
striking  the  flag,  and  conquest  by  raising  that  of  the 
victor  over  or  in  the  place  of  the  flag  of  the  defeated, 

401 


The  early  discoverers  in  America  formally  took 
possession  of  new  found  lands  by  raising  the  flag  of 
their  country  to  denote  the  new  sovereignty,  and  the 
transmutations  of  government  were  completed  by 
changing  them. 

For  an  American  colony,  New  York  saw  many 
changes  in  government  and  ownership,  and  as  the  dom- 
inant power  was  always  evidenced  by  its  flag  which 
floated  over  its  cities  and  fortifications,  Albany's  po- 
litical vicissitudes  make  the  subject  of  the  colors 
which  have  floated  over  it,  or  which  have  been  con- 
nected with  its  history  both  interesting  and  pictur- 
esque. 

For  historical  purposes  Henry  Hudson  is  con- 
sidered the  first  white  person  to  have  ascended  the 
Hudson  River.  We  may  safely  set  aside  as  with- 
out foundation  in  fact  the  tradition,  that  the  French 
visited  the  site  of  Albany  before  Hudson  did,  and  it 
is  not  even  claimed  that  the  Norsemen  or  Icelanders 
were  ever  near  us. 

From  the  journal  of  Robert  Juet,  the  master's 
mate  of  the  Half  Moon,  Hudson's  ship,  it  appears 
that  he  "  and  foure  more  of  the  Companie  went  up 
with  our  Boat  to  sound  the  river  higher  up,"  and 
visited  the  present  site  of  Albany  on  September  22d, 
1609,  receiving  visits  from  the  neighboring  Indian 
chiefs,  and  people. 

Hudson  was  an  English  mariner  in  the  service  of 
the  Dutch  East  India  Company,  then  under  the  pro- 
tection of  the  government  of  the  Netherlands,  and 
floated  the  flags  of  both  from  the  masts  of  the  Half 
Moon. 


402 


After  the  treaty  at  Utretch  and  in  1582,  the  United 
Netherlands  adopted  as  its  flag,  to  denote  its  union, 
a  banner  of  three  equal  horizontal  stripes,  alternately 
yellow,  white  and  blue,  represented  in  the  illustra- 
tions as  figure  i,  and  that  was  its  flag  in  1609. 

The  flag  of  the  East  India  Company  was  the  flag 
of  the  Netherlands,  with  the  letters  A.  O.  C.  in  the 
center  of  the  white  stripe,  the  letters  being  the  abbre- 
viation of  the  name  of  the  company,  ^^Algeeniene  Oost 
Indise  Compagnie.  "  "  The  general  East  India  Com- 
pany "  (figure  3). 

The  East  India  Company,  under  the  protection  of 
the  general  Government,  ruled  over  Albany  until  1622, 
when  the  control  of  the  colony  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  "  Gooctroyeerde  West  Indise  Compagnie^'  or  "  The 
privileged  West  India  Company,"  whose  flag  was  the 
national  ensign,  with  the  letters  "  G.  W.  C."  in  mono- 
gram, as  represented  in  figure  4. 

In  1650,  after  the  death  of  William  II,  the  Nether- 
lands changed  the  national  flag  by  substituting  a  red 
stripe  for  the  orange  (fig.  2),  and  it  is  fair  to  presume 
that  the  West  India  Company  altered  its  flag  to  cor- 
respond. 

The  flag  of  the  West  India  Company,  under  the 
protection  of  the  national  flag,  floated  over  Albany's 
battlements  until  the  English  conquered  the  province 
in  1664. 

On  the  29th  day  of  July,  1673,  a  Dutch  fleet  of 
twenty-three  vessels,  carrying  1,600  men,  forced  the 
resurrender  of  New  York,  and  three  days  later  Lieu- 
tenant Salisbury,  the  English  commandant,  surren- 
dered Fort  Albany  to  the  victors.     It  was  at   once 


403 


renamed  Willemstadt,  and  the  presence  of  its  new 
masters  made  known  by  the  red,  white  and  blue  flag 
of  the  States  General  again  floating  over  its  battle- 
ments, 

A  year  later,  in  November,  1674,  the  Dutch  Gov- 
ernor, Colve,  surrendered  the  province  of  New  York 
to  his  English  successor,  Major  Edmond  Andros. 
Willemstadt  submitted  to  the  inevitable,  and  the  flag 
of  the  India  Companies  and  of  the  United  Nether- 
lands that  bore  testimony  of  their  dominion  and  gov- 
ernment for  65  years,  were  forever  furled,  and  that  of 
England  appeared,  to  have  in  time  an  equally  inglori- 
ous exit. 

The  early  English  flag  was  called  the  flag  of  St. 
George,  and  without  reference  to  technical  descrip- 
tion was  a  red  cross  on  a  white  field. 

The  Scotch  flag  was  the  Cross  of  St.  Andrew,  a 
white  saltaire  on  a  blue  field. 

On  the  union  of  the  crowns  of  England  and  Scot- 
land, James  I.  issued  a  proclamation  that  "  all  the 
subjects  of  this  isle  and  the  kingdom  of  Great  Britain 
should  bear  in  the  main-top  the  red  cross,  commonly 
called  St.  George's  Cross,  and  the  white  cross,  com- 
monly called  St.  Andrew's  Cross,  joined  together  ac- 
cording to  the  forms  adopted  by  our  own  heralds." 

The  British  flag  as  it  appears  to-day  never  floated 
over  the  American  colonies. 

The  banner  of  St.  Patrick  was  a  "saltaire  gules 
on  a  field  argent,"  a  red  St.  Andrew's  Cross  on  a 
white  field,  and  was  not  added  to  the  British  flag 
until  1801. 


404 


Figure  lO  represents  the  British  flag  from  the  time 
of  James  I.  (1606)  until  1707. 

On  January  16,  1707,  the  union  of  England  and 
Scotland  was  finally  ratified,  and  the  national  flag 
changed  to  the  form  depicted  in  figure  1 1  —  the  red 
or  "  meteor  flag,"  with  the  Union  Jack,  so  called  from 
Jacques  (James  I.)  who  ordained  it,  in  the  upper 
canton,  and  that  was  the  flag  nailed  to  the  staff  in 
1783,  when  the  British  evacuated  New  York,  and 
which,  when  it  came  down,  represented  the  last  act 
in  the  drama  of  the  Revolution,  and  the  surrender  of 
British  sovereignty  over  the  American  colonies. 

The  history  of  the  so-called  Colonial  flags  cannot 
be  written. 

They  appear  depicted  in  old  prints  and  books  but 
their  special  significance  is  past  finding  out,  and  their 
origin  as  a  rule  unknown. 

It  is  neither  within  the  limits  nor  purposes  of  this 
article  to  enumerate  all  the  colonial  flags,  but  only 
those  which  are  specially  connected  with  New  York's 
history. 

The  Van  Rensselaers,  patroons  of  Albany,  early 
arrogated  to  themselves  feudal  honors  and  privileges, 
and  their  historic  fort  on  Baern  Island,  and  brave 
attempts  to  levy  tribute  from  the  Dutch  skippers  and 
dominate  the  upper  Hudson,  are  graphically  described 
in  Irving's  Knickerbocker's  History  of  New  York. 

That  they  had  a  flag  is  certain.  In  the  Historical 
Documents  of  New  York  (vol.  i,  p.  522)  there  is  a 
record  of  a  "  petition  of  the  Patroon  and  co-directors 
of  the  Colonic  of  Rensselaer's  Wyck,"  to  the  East 
India  Company,  dated  January  17,  1653,  which  among 


405 


other  grievances  speaks  of  men  "  coming  into  the 
colonic  of  Rensselaer's  Wyck  aforesaid,  and  there 
causing  the  petitioners'  flag  to  be  hauled  down,  in 
opposition  to  the  will  and  protest  of  the  officers." 

The  design  of  the  Van  Rensselaer  flag  is  lost  to 
history,  for  the  most  careful  research  made  for  years 
has  failed  to  discover  a  specimen  or  description  of  it. 

In  1688,  after  the  Duke  of  York  became  King  of 
England,  Sir  Edmond  Andros,  its  Governor,  was  com- 
missioned as  the  Governor  of  New  England  in  America, 
with  instructions  to  destroy  the  seal  of  New  York,  to 
annex  its  government  and  territory  to  New  England, 
and  to  use  the  seal  appointed  for  New  England  on  all 
New  York  documents. 

The  King  at  the  same  time  sent  over  a  special  flag 
for  the  Provinces  of  New  England  in  America,  being 
the  flag  proper  of  England  before  the  union,  the  red 
cross  of  St.  George  on  a  white  field,  charged  with  the 
kingly  crown  and  monogram  J.  R.  "Jacobus  Rex" 
(figure  5). 

Figures  6,  7  and  8,  are  different  forms  of  a  com- 
mon colonial  flag. 

It  appears  occasionally  green,  sometimes  red,  prin- 
cipally with  a  blue  fly,  but  always  with  the  flag  of  St. 
George,  forming  a  canton  in  the  upper  corner  next  to 
the  staff.  Some  were  depicted  with  a  tree,  usually 
denominated  a  pine  tree,  in  the  upper  left-hand  cor- 
ner of  the  canton,  sometimes  it  is  vacant  and  often 
with  a  globe,  with  a  small  section  cut  out  representing 
a  hemisphere  discovered. 

A  view  of  New  York  harbor  in  1697,  from  the 
journal  of  Jasper  Bankers  and  Peter  Sluyter,  is  copied 


406 


^ 


in  the  reprint  of  the  journal  published  by  the  Long 
Island  Historical  Society,  in  1867.  It  shows  the 
Union  flag  (No.  10)  floating  over  the  fort,  and  the 
Colonial  flag  (No.  8)  flying  from  a  vessel  at  anchor. 

On  November  13,  1696,  Messrs,  Brooke  and  Nicoll 
made  application  to  the  Home  Government,  among 
other  requisites  for  the  defence  of  the  forts  in  New 
York,  for  "  six  large  Union  flags"  (No.  10),  and  they 
were  sent  on  February  i,  1696—7. 

Lieutenant-Governor  Nanfan,  who  succeeded  the 
Earl  of  Bellemont  as  Governor  of  New  York  in  1701, 
in  a  letter  to  the  Lords  of  Trade,  of  date  of  Decem- 
ber 29,  1 701  (Historical  Documents  of  New  York, 
vol.  4,  p.  927),  speaks  of  a  special  "  flag  distinct  from 
his  majesty's  ships  of  war  to  be  worn  by  all  ships 
that  shall  be  commissionated  by  the  governor  of  his 
majesty's  plantations."  We  cannot  describe  that  flag 
but  believe  it  to  be  a  flag  similar  to  6,  7.  or  8. 

When  Robert  Hunter  was  made  Governor,  the  draft 
of  his  instructions,  dated  December  27,  1709  (vol.  5 
Documents  relating  to  Colonial  History  of  New  York, 
p.  137),  among  other  things  reads  as  follows: 

"85.  Whereas,  great  inconveniences  do  happen  to 
merchant  ships  and  other  vessels  in  the  plantations 
wearing  the  colours  borne  by  our  ships  of  war,  under 
pretence  of  commissions  granted  to  them  by  the 
governors  of  the  said  plantations,  and  that  by  trading 
under  those  colours,  not  only  amongst  our  own  sub- 
jects, but  also  those  of  other  princes  and  states,  com- 
mitting divers  irregularities,  they  do  much  dishonour 
our  service,  for  prevention  whereof  you  are  to  oblige 
the  commanders  of  all  such  ships  to  which  you  shall 


407 


grant  commissioners,  to  wear  no  other  Jack  than  ac- 
cording to  the  sample  here  described,  that  is  to  say: 
Such  as  is  worn  by  our  ships  of  war,  with  the  distinc- 
tion of  a  white  escutcheon  in  the  middle  thereof,  and 
that  the  said  mark  of  distinction  may  extend  itself 
one-half  of  the  depth  of  the  Jack  and  one-half  of  the 
fly  thereof." 

This  flag  is  correctly  depicted  on  page  137  of  vol. 
5  of  the  Documentary  History  of  New  York  and  is 
represented  by  figure  9. 

When  George  Clinton  became  Governor  of  the 
Colony  of  New  York,  the  draft  of  his  instructions 
from  the  Lords  of  Trade,  evidenced  by  their  letter  of 
August  20,  1 74 1,  on  the  subject  of  the  colonial  flag, 
reads  as  follows :  "  to  wear  (for  the  colonial  flag)  the 
same  ensign  as  merchant  ships,  and  a  red  jack  with  a 
union  jack  in  a  canton  at  the  upper  corner  next  to 
the  staff",  pursuant  to  the  opinion  of  His  Majesty's 
Commissioners  for  executing  the  oflice  of  High  Ad- 
miral of  Great  Britain  and  agreeable  to  our  repre- 
sentations to  their  Excellencies,  the  Lord  Justices, 
dated  August  7,  1740."  The  last  described  flag  is 
not  illustrated,  for  the  description  is  very  blind,  and 
no  copy  nor  original  nor  picture  of  the  same  is 
known. 

When  the  war  of  the  Revolution  broke  out,  the 
idea  that  the  flag  of  the  English  represented  their 
sovereignty  found  immediate  and  determined  expres- 
sion in  its  repudiation,  and  the  necessity  for  a  symbol 
to  designate  the  new  dominion  resulted  in  the  crea- 
tion of  many  strange  devices,  like  the  Palmetto  flag  of 
the  South  Carolinians,  and  various  other  colors,  some 


408 


bearing  a  snake  with  the  motto,  "  Don't  tread  on  tne," 
some  crescents,  others  stars,  anything  to  distinguish 
those  who  fought  under  them  from  the  hated  foe. 

It  is  said  that  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  the 
American  forces  carried  the  colonial  flag  represented 
by  figure  8. 

No  flag  was  evidently  carried  at  Lexington  on 
April  19,  1775,  nor  any  recognized  standard  from 
that  time  until  Washington  raised  the  first  general 
American  flag  at  Cambridge  on  January  22,  1776. 

That  was  prior  to  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
and  at  a  time  when  the  most  that  any  of  the  patriots 
expected  or  demanded  was  justice  and  relief  from 
oppression. 

Independence  was  not  dreamed  of,  and  the  idea  of 
Bristish  protection  and  American  dependence  is  re- 
presented in  the  flag  (figure  12).  It  consists  of  thir- 
teen stripes  of  alternate  red  and  white,  with  the  Union 
Jack  of  England  in  a  canton  in  the  upper  corner. 

Where  the  idea  of  the  thirteen  horizontal  stripes  of 
alternate  red  and  white  had  its  origin  is  not  known, 
but  the  best  authorities  believe  that  they  were  taken 
from  Washington's  coat  of  arms. 

The  flag  was  formerly  adopted  after  consultation, 
and  was  known  as  the  "  Grand  Union  "  flag. 

The  Grand  Union  Flag  continued  to  be  the  official 
American  flag  long  after  independence  had  been  de- 
clared, and  the  idea  of  a  British  protectorate  was 
abandoned  and  many  bloody  battles  were  fought 
under  its  folds. 

The  necessity  of  a  permanent  and  distinct  flag  had 
long  been  discussed,  but  it  was  not  until  June   14, 


409 


1777.  that  it  took  definite  shape.  On  that  day  Con- 
gress passed  a  resohition  adopting  a  flag  in  the  fol- 
lowing words : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  flag  of  the  Thirteen  United 
States  be  thirteen  stripes,  alternate  red  and  white ; 
that  the  union  be  thirteen  stars,  white  in  a  blue  field, 
representing  a  new  constellation." 

The  flag  subsequently  used  during  the  war  of  the 
Revolution  is  shown  in  figure  13,  the  stars  being 
arranged  in  the  form  of  a  circle. 

The  design  was  to  add  an  additional  star  and  stripe 
to  the  flag  for  every  new  State,  but  it  was  neglected 
until  on  January  13,  1794,  it  was  resolved  by  Con- 
gress "  that  from  and  after  the  first  day  of  May,  Anno 
Domini  1795,  the  flag  of  the  United  States  be  fifteen 
stripes,  alternate  red  and  white ;  that  the  union  be 
fifteen  stars  in  a  blue  field." 

The  flag  of  fifteen  stripes  and  fifteen  stars  is  repre- 
sented by  figure  14,  and  that  was  the  standard  under 
which  the  glorious  victories  of  the  war  of  181 2  were 
won. 

No  further  changes  were  made  in  the  flag  after 
1795,  until  the  new  States  began  to  clamor  for  recogni- 
tion in  the  National  ensign  ;  the  matter  was  discussed 
in  Congress,  the  inexpediency  of  adding  a  stripe  for 
each  new  State  was  conceded,  and  on  April  4,  181 8, 
the  flag  of  these  United  States  was  forever  fixed  at 
thirteen  horizontal  stripes  of  alternate  red  and  white, 
each  State  being  represented  in  the  blue  union  by  a 
white  star,  a  star  to  be  added  to  the  constellation  for 
each  new  State  on  the  4th  day  of  July  next  succeed- 


410 


ing  its  admission,  and  that  flag  as  now  constituted  is 
represented  in  figure  i6. 

The  flag  of  the  State  of  New  York  is  represented 
in  figure  15.  We  cannot  find  any  legislative  act,  fix- 
ing either  its  size  or  color. 

The  earliest  record  of  any  such  flag  is  found  in  the 
military  regulations  promulgated  during  the  time 
when  Edwin  D.  Morgan  was  Governor  of  the  State 
(1859),  which  prescribed  that  the  State  flag  should 
be  of  white  bunting,  bearing  the  arms  of  the  State  in 
the  center  thereof. 

Under  the  general  powers  given  to  the  military 
authorities  to  make  regulations  that  have  the  force  of 
laws,  for  the  government  of  the  military  forces  of  the 
State,  the  designation  in  the  regulations  would  fix  the 
color  and  size  of  the  State  flag  for  military,  but  not 
for  civil,  purposes. 

In  fact,  the  State  flag,  as  such,  is  not  mentioned  in 
any  act  of  the  Legislature,  except  in  chapter  190,  of 
the  Laws  of  1882,  entitled  "An  act  to  establish  the 
original  arms  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  to  pro- 
vide for  the  use  thereof  on  the  public  seals." 

Section  7  of  that  act  reads :  "  During  the  hours 
when  the  Legislature  is  in  session,  the  State  flag,  bear- 
ing the  arms  of  the  State,  shall  be  displayed  from  the 
Capitol  together  with  the  flag  of  the  United   States." 

The  act  takes  it  for  granted  that  there  is  a  "  State 
flag." 

Except  in  the  military  regulations  we  find  no  au- 
thority for  this  flag,  but  conceding  that  by  implica- 
tion the  act  last  cited  does  establish  a  State  flag  for 


411 


civil  purposes,  what  authority  is  there  for  making  it 
white  any  more  than  red  or  blue? 

It  may  not  be  a  very  material  issue  to  raise,  but  it 
is  nevertheless  curious  to  know  that  the  State  of  New 
York  floats  a  flag  of  a  color  for  which  there  is  no 
statutory  warrant. 

We  distinguish  the  State  flag  from  the  regimental 
standards  or  colors.   . 

Chap,  xii,  of  the  Laws  of  1778,  entitled  "  An  act 
further  to  organize  the  government  of  this  State," 
passed  March  16,    1778,  contains  the  following: 

*'  And  whereas,  arms  have  been  devised  for  this 
State,  *  *  *  be  it  therefore  further  enacted  by 
the  authority  aforesaid,  that  the  said  arms  *  *  * 
shall  be  and  they  are  hereby  declared  to  be  the  arms 
*     *     *     of  this  State." 

Within  three  weeks  from  that  time,  on  April  3rd, 
1778,  an  act  was  passed  "  regulating  the  militia  of  the 
State  of  New  York,"  which  contained  the  following: 

"  VI.  That  each  regiment  shall  be  provided  with  a 
Standard  or  Colours  at  the  Expense  of  the  Field 
Officers." 

One  of  these  flags  carried  by  the  3rd  New  York 
regiment,  commanded  by  Col.  Peter  Gansevoort,  Jr., 
in  1 778  and  through  the  Revolutionary  war,  is  now 
in  the  possession  of  the  colonel's  descendants  in 
Albany. 

It  is  of  blue  silk,  with  the  then  newly  adopted 
arms  painted  in  the  centre  thereof. 

There  are  a  number  of  statutes  fixing  the  arms 
and  seals  of  the  State,  but  none  establishing  either 
State   or   regimental   colors,  and  the  question  arises, 


412 


why  and  by  what  authority  was  the  color  of  the  regi- 
mental flag  made  blue,  and  the  State  arms  put  on 
the  same  in  preference  to  any  other  device,  or  if  the 
flag  carried  by  Col.  Gansevoort's  regiment  was  a 
State  and  not  a  regimental  flag  —  and  there  having 
been  no  distinction  between  the  two  until  the  military 
regulations  of  1859,  by  what  authority  was  the  dis- 
tinction in  color  made,  and  when  was  it  adopted,  by 
the  State? 

The  regimental  flags  have  been  of  a  blue  color 
since  the  foundation  of  the  Government,  and  are  so 
to-day,  and  many  elegant  specimens  bearing  honor- 
able scars  won  in  the  service  of  the  Union  during  the 
Rebellion,  can  be  seen  daily  in  the  upper  corridors 
of  the  Capitol  in  Albany. 

The  municipal  flag  of  Albany  is  similar  in  purpose 
and  intent  to  the  State  flag,  denoting  the  municipal 
sovereignty  of  the  city.  It  is  of  white  with  a  city 
coat  of  arms  in  the  center  in  blue  and  is  floated  over 
the  City  Hall  in  Albany  on  all  occasions  of  municipal 
ceremony  and  on  State  and  National  holidays. 

Figure  18  is  the  Bi-centennial  flag  of  Albany,  de- 
signed by  the  writer,  as  a  standard,  bearing  on  its  folds 
the  political  and  dynastic  history  of  Albany  for  two 
hundred  and  seventy-nine  years,  to  mark  the  celebra- 
tion of  its  Bi-centenary  as  a  chartered  city. 

It  holds  in  combination  the  flags  before  repre- 
sented. 

Next  to  the  staff  is  the  tri-color  of  the  States  Gen- 
eral, in  its  two- fold  form  of  yellow,  white  and  blue 
and  red,  white  and  blue  representing  the  period  of 
the  Dutch  supremacy  which,  during  all  the  time  suc- 

413 


ceeding,  had  its  influence  over  Albany's  history  and 
its  people  and  which  holds  fast  the  subsequent  periods 
represented  in  the  quarterings. 

The  first  quarter  contains  Albany's  municipal  flag, 
representing  the  local  history  of  the  place  and  its  city 
government ;  the  second  quarter  is  the  old  British 
jack  denoting  the  days  of  English  ascendency ;  the 
third  quarter  is  the  jack  of  the  best  recognized 
colonial  flag,  representing  the  colonial  period ;  and 
the  fourth  the  union  of  the  stars  and  stripes,  repre- 
senting the  period  of  free  government  under  the 
Constitution  and  Laws  of  the  United  States  —  never 
to  be  changed. 


414 


No.  1. 


No.  2. 


No.  3. 


THE  CITY  SEALS  OF  ALBANY. 


Prior  to  1686,  Albany  was  a  town  governed  by 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  under  commissions  issued  by 
the  colonial  Governors. 

As  such  it  had  no  seal. 

The  Dongan  Charter,  signed  July  22,  1686,  which 
made  Albany  a  city,  authorized  it  to  have  and  use  a 
corporate  seal  in  the  words  following:  "the  said 
Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  City  of 
Albany,  and  their  successors  shall  and  may  forever 
hereafter,  have  one  common  seal  to  serve  for  the 
sealing  of  all  and  singular  their  affairs  and  business 
touching  or  concerning  the  said  corporation.  And 
it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  to  and  for  the  said 
Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  said  city 
of  Albany,  and  their  successors,  as  they  shall  see 
cause,  to  break,  change,  alter  and  new  make  their  said 
common  seal,  and  as  often  as  to  them  shall  seem 
convenient." 

Prior  to  the  granting  of  the  charter,  which  at  first 
the  Van  Rensselaers  opposed,  they  released  all  their 
title  to  the  vacant  lands  within  the  corporate  limits  of 
the  new  city  as  fixed  by  the  charter  and  vested  it  in 
the  new  corporation,  a  portion  of  which  lands  in  order 
to  meet  the  expenses  attending  the  procurement  of 
the  document  were  ordered  to  be  sold  "  att  a  publike 
vendu  or  outcry  in  ye  Citty  Hall  on  Wednesday,  ye 
first  day  of  December"  (1686). 

415 


A  deed  from  the  city  of  Albany,  bearing  date  in 
December,  1686,  describing  a  certain  "  lott  of  grounde 
on  ye  hill  where  ye  gallows  stande  "  sold  at  public 
auction  pursuant  to  the  above  order  and  signed  by 
Peter  Schuyler,  the  first  Mayor  for  the  city,  and 
attested  by  the  city  seal,  is  in  existence.  The  city  seal 
is  firmly  and  clearly  impressed  on  the  paper  in  red 
wax,  and  is  reproduced  in  figure  i. 

It  is  octagonal  in  shape,  with  the  letters  A.  L,  B. 
in  monogram  as  depicted,  with  a  crown  over  them. 

If  the  design  has  any  meaning,  or  there  were  any 
special  reasons  why  it  was  adopted,  they  are  not  now 
known. 

A  copy  or  description  of  it  was  not  known  until 
the  above  deed  was  found  among  the  old  papers  of  a 
lineal  descendant  of  the  grantee,  after  a  careful  search 
made  at  the  request  of  the  writer  in  1886. 

Munsell,  in  his  valuable  and  hardly  enough  appre- 
ciated books  on  Albany,  has  no  description  or  picture 
of  it,  although  he  has  engraved  all  other  seals. 

During  the  Bi-centennial  year  several  others  were 
found,  one  appearing  on  a  grant  of  the  freedom  of 
the  city  given  in  1736. 

The  letters  must  be  an  abbreviation  of  the  name 
of  the  city.  We  cannot  learn  that  the  crown  has  any 
heraldic  significance  ;  it  is  hardly  a  kingly  crown,  nor 
in  shape  like  a  coronet,  the  head  attire  of  the  nobility. 

The  first  public  seal  of  the  province  of  the  New 
Netherlands,  granted  by  the  State's  General,  had  a 
coronet  for  a  crest ;  so  had  the  second,  granted  by 
the  Duke  of  York  to  the  province  of  New  York  by 
royal  warrant,  dated  February  9,  1662. 


416 


This  latter  seal  being  the  royal  arms  of  the  house 
of  Stuart,  bore  as  a  crest,  a  coronet  composed  of 
crosses  and  fleurs  de  lis,  and  was  the  seal  of  the  prov- 
ince of  New  York  in  1686,  and  it  is  probable  that 
the  city  followed  the  colonial  seal  and  the  custom  of 
the  day,  and  used  the  crown  as  a  crest,  or  charged 
the  monogram  of  the  city  with  a  crown,  to  show  its 
dependence  and  loyalty. 

The  city  records  have  little  to  say  concerning  the 
seal ;  it  seems  to  have  been  ambulatory,  for  at  one 
time  the  clerk  was  forbidden  to  carry  it  about  with 
him  to  the  detriment  of  public  business. 

In  1740  the  Common  Council  forbade  its  use  ex- 
cept when  the  city  fathers  were  in  session,  but  in 
1 74 1  this  rule  was  so  far  relaxed  that  the  Mayor 
could  seal  "Tavern  Keepers  Lycences."  In  1742 
the  aldermen  who  seemed  to  be  then,  as  now,  jealous 
of  their  privileges,  re-enacted  the  rule  of  1740,  evi- 
dently intending  that  if  any  tavern  keepers'  licenses 
were  to  be  granted  and  sealed  (which  sealing  under 
the  charter  was  necessary  to  their  validity),  they 
would    be  on  hand  and  participate  in  the  event. 

It  seems  from  that  and  what  follows,  that  some 
revenue  was  attached  to  the  use  and  possesion  of  the 
city  seal,  and  the  Common  Council,  the  city  clerk 
and  the  Mayor  were  fighting  for  its  custody,  with  the 
victory  in  the  hands  of  the  aldermen,  who  forbade  its 
use  except  when  they  were  in  session. 

But  a  reformer  appeared  on  the  field  in  the  person 
of  Jacob  C.  Ten  Eyck,  who  was  elected  Mayor  in 
1748.  He  went  before  the  Board  of  Aldermen  im- 
mediately after   his    election,  produced   the  city  seal 


417 


and  laid  it  before  the  Common  Council.  He  said : 
"  that  Dirck  Ten  Broek,  Esq.,  had  delivered  the  same 
to  him,  as  was  formerly  usual  for  the  Mayor  going 
off  to  do  to  the  new  Mayor,  but  as  the  present 
Mayor's  opinion  was  that  the  city  seal  should  be  de- 
livered to  the  keeping  of  the  clerk  of  the  Common 
Council,  he  desired  the  consent  of  the  Board  that  the 
same  may  be  delivered  to  Mr.  Philip  G.  Livingston, 
the  present  clerk." 

It  was  so  ordered,  and  a  resolution  was  passed  by 
the  board  regulating  the  use  of  it  by  the  clerk,  and 
requiring  him  to  use  it  in  certain  matters  in  the  pres- 
ence of  three  aldermen.  The  Mayor  was  forbidden 
"  for  the  future  to  have  the  keeping  of  the  city  seal, 
unless  in  the  absence  of  the  clerk." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Common  Council,  held  April 
28,  1752,  the  following  was  passed: 

"Resolved  and  ordered  by  this  Board — That  the 
old  seal  of  this  corporation,  now  in  the  hands  of  the 
Mayor,  be  changed  and  altered,  and  that  there  be  a 
new  seal  in  its  place,  which  new  seal,  being  now  pro- 
duced to  this  board  and  approved  of  by  them,  the 
same  is  ordered  to  be  lodged  in  the  hands  of  our 
present  clerk  in  his  office  for  the  use  and  behoof  of 
this  corporation,  and  that  the  present  now  new  seal  be 
henceforth  our  seal  and  called,  deemed  and  esteemed 
the  common  seal  of  this  corporation  until  it  be  altered 
and  changed  and  the  aforesaid  former  seal  be  null  and 
void  and  dead  in  law  to  all  intents  and  purposes 
whatsoever;"  and  again  re-enacted  the  ordinance  of 
1740,  which  prohibited  its  use,  "  except  it  be  in  our 
Common  Council." 


418 


The  new  seal  above  mentioned  is  represented  in 
figure  2. 

It  displays  the  Albany  beaver,  but  looking  in  the 
original,  more  like  a  drowned  cat  than  the  fat  and 
sleek  animal,  it  was  intended  to  represent,  with  the 
word  "Albany  "  over,  and  the  figures  of  the  year  1752 
under  it. 

Neither  the  resolution  nor  the  records  state  why 
the  change  was  made. 

Albany  was  certainly  more  English  in  1752  than  in 
1686,  and  why  the  English  crown  of  the  latter  year 
should  have  been  changed  for  the  Dutch  beaver  in 
1752  is  not  apparent,  especially  as  the  reason  could 
not  have  been  artistic,  for  the  first  seal  is  certainly 
handsomer  in  appearance  than  the  second ;  nor 
because  they  were  tired  of  it,  for  it  became  again  in 
use  a  few  years  later. 

On  June  30,  1752,  the  new  seal  was  Ordered  to  be 
used  on  all  public  documents,  and  it  was  ordained 
that  there  should  be  paid  to  the  Mayor  or  aldermen 
three  shillings  for  their  fees  for  its  use,  and  to  the 
clerk  for  putting  the  seal  to  any  instrument  six  shil- 
lings for  the  use  of  the  corporation,  and  one  shilling 
to  the  clerk  for  his  own  use. 

On  May  3,  1755,  the  Common  Council  passed  the 
following  resolution : 

"Resolved,  By  this  Board,  that  the  old  seal  now 
in  the  custody  of  the  Mayor  with  the  letters  thereon, 
shall  be  used  by  the  Mayor  to  lyscense  Carmen  and 
Tavern  Keepers  and  to  nothing  else,  and  shall  be 
called  the  publick  seal  of  this  city." 

Thus  was  the  old   Dongan  seal,  a  few  short  years 


419 


before  declared  "  dead  in  law,"  resuscitated ;  and 
Albany  had  two  seals,  a  city  or  corporate  seal,  and  a 
public  seal. 

This  state  of  affairs  did  not  last  long,  for  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Common  Council  held  October  i6,  1761, 
the  city  clerk  was  allowed  one  shilling  for  affixing 
the  city  seal  to  each  freedom  or  other  instrument 
issued  by  the  city,  and  for  each  license  given  to  any 
tavern  keeper,  and  that  none  be  valid  without  the 
seal. 

The  old  seal  here  disappears  from  history.  The 
seal  of  1752  continued  to  be  the  corporate  seal  of 
Albany  for  many  years,  and  why  or  when  it  was 
changed  and  the  present  seal  adopted  cannot  be  defi- 
nitely stated. 

There  is  no  record,  changing  either  the  seal  of 
1752  or  adopting  the  one  now  in  use. 

The  earliest  copy  of  the  shield  on  the  seal  (No.  3) 
is  found  on  an  old  map  of  a  portion  of  Albany> 
made  by  Simeon  De  Witt,  a  brave  revolutionary  sol- 
dier on  Washington's  staff  and  Surveyor-General  of 
the  State,  dated  in  1790,  and  now  on  file  in  the  city 
surveyor's  office. 

It  is  the  shield  of  the  arms  of  the  city  of  Albany, 
for  which  there  also  seems  to  be  no  record  authority, 
and  is  described  by  Mr.  Howell,  in  heraldic  language, 
as  follows  :  "  Party  per  fess  argent  and  gules.  Above, 
a  beaver  gnawing  at  the  stump  of  a  tree  prostrates 
both  proper  ;  below,  two  garbs,  proper.  Crest,  a 
sloop  under  sail,  proper.      Motto,  Assiduity." 

The  arms,  as  depicted  on  the  map  of  1790,  show 
supporters,   dexter,   a  farmer,  whose  left  hand  sup- 


420 


ports  the  shield  and  whose  right  rests  on  his  hip  with 
a  sickle  hung  on  his  wrist ;  the  sinister  is  an  Indian, 
his  right  hand  supporting  the  shield,  and  his  left  sus- 
taining a  bow,  one  end  of  which  rests  on  the  ground. 

But  little  attention  has  ever  been  paid  by  the  city 
fathers  to  the  duty  of  maintaining  the  arms  of  Albany 
as  originally  designed   or  according  to  heraldic  rules. 

The  city  arms  next  appear  on  a  map  dated  in  1795 
with  variations ;  each  succeeding  artist  or  engraver 
taking  liberties  with  the  picture,  especially  the  artist 
who  painted  the  official  copy  now  in  the  Mayor's 
office  in  the  City  Hall,  until  the  arms  as  now  used 
have  lost  all  their  original  significance  and  point;  new 
additions  of  landscape  and  figure  have  been  added 
without  authority,  and  to  cap  the  climax,  the  sup- 
porters have  been  comfortably  seated,  in  violation  of 
the  first  principles  of  heraldry. 

The  present  city  seal  (No.  3)  must  have  been 
adopted  some  time  between  1790,  the  date  of  the 
above  map,  and  1795,  the  date  of  a  city  lease  in  the 
chamberlain's  office,  where  it  appears  for  the  first 
known  time. 

It  has  been  used  as  depicted  in  figure  3  since  its 
first  adoption  without  alteration.  It  is  typical  of 
Albany.  The  beaver  is  displayed  at  work — historical 
in  its  connection  with  the  early  name,  history  and 
wealth  of  the  people  of  Albany — and  their  industry ; 
the  rich,  harvested  grain  appears,  indicative  of  its 
agricultural  wealth ;  the  crest  is  a  Dutch  sloop,  de- 
noting Albany's  supremacy  at  the  head  of  the  sloop 
navigation  of  the  Hudson  River,  and  its  commercial 
importance,  and  the  motto,  "Assiduity,"  appropriate 


421 


to  a  city  noted  for  the  diligence  and  the  close  atten- 
tion to  business  of  its  inhabitants. 

A  few  years  ago  the  arms  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  established  by  authority  in  1778.  fell  into  the 
same  condition  through  neglect  that  the  arms  of  the 
city  of  Albany  are  now  in,  and  the  State  thought  it 
of  sufficient  importance  to  appoint  a  commission  to 
re-establish  them  as  they  were  first  designed,  and  their 
labors  found  fruition  in  the  passage  by  the  legislature 
of  chapter  190  of  the  Laws  of  1882,  entitled  "An 
act  to  re-establish  the  original  arms  of  the  State  of 
New  York  and  to  provide  for  the  use  thereof  on  the 
public  seals." 

The  State  arms  are  fixed  by  law,  engraved  accord- 
ing to  rule,  and  can  never  be  changed. 

Few  American  cities  have  arms  charged  on  a  shield, 
upheld  by  supporters  ;  according  to  some  authorities 
none  except  the  cities  of  New  York  and  Albany,  and 
their  readoption  in  a  fixed  form  and  their  preservation 
as  an  honor  unique  in  American  municipal  history, 
and  as  a  matter  of  local  pride  should  engage  the 
attention  of  our  city  fathers,  as  an  outcome  of  Albany's 
Bi-centenary  as  a  chartered  city. 


422 


THE  BI-CENTENNIAL  MEDAL. 


The  committee  having  in  charge  the  celebration  of 
Albany's  Bi-centenary  as  a  chartered  city,  determined 
to  signalize  the  event  by  issuing  a  medal  that  would 
be  a  credit  to  the  occasion,  and  a  reminder  of  the 
event  for  all  time. 

It  resulted  in  the  artistic  and  appropriate  medal 
represented  in  the  engraving.  It  is  two  inches  in 
diameter,  and  one-eighth  of  an  inch  thick.  A  few 
of  a  greater  thickness  were  struck  off  specially. 

The  die  was  cut  by  George  H.  Lovett  of  New  York, 
one  of  America's  celebrated  medalists,  noted  for  the 
fineness  of  his  engraving.  This  medal  is  distinguished 
for  its  artistic  finish,  correctness  of  detail,  historical 
accuracy,  and  for  the  strength  and  character  of  its 
workmanship. 

The  obverse  of  the  medal  contains  a  picture  of 
Governor  Dongan  signing  the  parchment  which  made 
Albany  a  city,  in  the  presence  of  Peter  Schuyler  and 
Robert  Livingston,  and  the  legend  :  "  PlETER  Schuy- 
ler    RECEIVING    THE     CHARTER    FROM     GOVERNOR 

Dongan,  July  22,  1686." 

The  scene  was  suggested  to  the  writer,  who  devised 
the  detail  of  the  medal,  by  the  following  extract  from 
the  minutes  of  the  city  of  Albany  (vol.  i,  p.  i)  : 

"  In  Nomine  Domino  Jesu  Christo.     Amen. 


423 


"  Att  a  meeting  of  ye  justices  of  ye  peace  for  ye 
County  of  Albany,  ye  26th  day  of  July,  A.  D.  1686. 

"  Pieter  Schuyler,  gent.,  and  Robert  Livingston, 
gent.,  who  were  commissionated  by  ye  towne  of  Albanie 
to  goe  to  New-Yorke  and  procure  ye  charter  for  this 
citty,  wh.  was  agreed  upon  between  ye  magistrates 
and  ye  right  hon'l  Col.  Tho.  Dongan,  Gov.  Gen'U, 
who  accordingly  have  brought  the  same  along  with 
them,  and  was  published  with  all  ye  joy  and  acclama- 
tions imaginable,  and  ye  said  two  gent'm.  received  ye 
thanks  of  ye  magistrates  for  their  diligence  and  care 
in  obtaining  ye  same." 

To  write  the  history  of  Schuyler  and  Livingston 
would  be  to  write  the  history  of  New  York  during 
their  time,  for  no  more  influential  men  lived  in  the 
colony. 

Peter  Schuyler  was  a  merchant  of  Albany,  and  lived 
in  1703  on  Broadway,  where  Van  Benthuysens'  print- 
ing office  now  stands,  his  lot  extending  back  to  the 
river. 

He  was  first  Mayor  of  Albany,  Colonel  of  the  Mili- 
tia of  the  county,  President  and  Member  of  the  Gov- 
ernor's Council,  Indian  Commissioner,  Judge  of  the 
Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer,  etc.,  and  the  most  valu- 
able man  in  the  colony  of  New  York  by  reason  of 
his  great  influence  over  the  Indians. 

He  visited  England  in  1710  with  a  delegation  of 
Indians,  and  was  received  by  Queen  Anne,  who 
ordered  his  portrait  painted  by  the  court  painter 
after  he  had  refused  the  offer  of  knighthood  from  her 
hands. 

The  painting  is  still    in    existence  in  the  posses- 


424 


sion  of  his  descendants  in  the  town  of  Watervleit, 
and  the  picture  of  Schuyler  in  the  medal  is  based 
upon  that  portrait.      Schuyler  died  in  1724. 

Robert  Livingston  was  born  at  Anacram,  Scotland, 
December  13,  1654;  emigrated  to  America  in  1674, 
and  settled  in  Albany. 

He  was  made  town  clerk  of  Albany  by  the  charter 
of  1686,  which  office  he  resigned  in  1721  ;  he  was 
also  collector  and  receiver  of  public  moneys,  sub- 
collector  of  customs  at  Albany,  Indian  Commissioner, 
etc.  He  married  Alida  Schuyler,  widow  of  Rev. 
Nicholas  Van  Rensselaer,  and  had  seven  children. 
He  was  the  progenitor  of  the  celebrated  Livingston 
family ;  lived  where  Tweddle  building  now  stands, 
and  died  April  20,  1725. 

There  is  a  picture  of  him  extant  representing  him 
to  be  a  swarthy  man,  with  long  black  hair,  wearing 
the  hat  and  costume  then  worn  by  the  Dissenters. 

His  portrait  has  been  followed  as  closely  as  possi- 
ble ;  the  pose  and  costume  being  from  Boughton's 
celebrated  picture  entitled:  "The  Return  of  the 
Mayflower." 

Thomas  Dongan,  subsequently  Viscount  Dongan, 
and  second  Earl  of  Limerick,  was,  prior  to  his  ap- 
pointment as  the  colonial  Governor  of  New  York,  a 
brave  and  gallant  colonel  in  the  Irish  contingent, 
serving  in  the  French  army.  He  was  made  Governor- 
General  by  King  James  II,  in  August,  1683,  and  was 
the  chief  magistrate  of  the  colony  on  July  22,  1686, 
and  as  such  signed  the  charter  which  made  Albany  a 
city.  He  was  a  wise  and  beneficent  Governor,  just  in 
his  dealings  with  the  colonists  and  the  Indians,  and 


425 


noted  for  the  fairness  with  which  he  treated  all  people 
in  matters  of  conscience. 

He  was  superseded  in  1688,  and  died  in  London 
in  1703. 

The  charter  which  he  signed  is  now  among  the 
records  of  the  city  of  Albany,  and  consists  of  several 
sheets  of  parchment  rolled,  with  a  very  large  colonial 
seal  attached. 

Great  attention  was  paid  to  the  historical  detail  and 
accuracy  of  costume  and  furniture  in  the  engraving, 
and  it  is  considered  a  masterpiece  of  its  kind. 

The  reverse  of  the  medal  has  in  the  center  the 
shield  and  crest  of  the  arms  and  seal  of  the  city  of 
Albany,  described  in  the  article  on  "  The  City  Seals 
of  Albany,"  and  the  legend :  "In  Commemoration 
OF  THE  Two  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the 
City  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  1886." 

The  number  of  medals  struck  from  the  die,  which 
was  defaced  on  the  22nd  day  of  July,  1886,  is  as  fol- 
lows :  Ten  gold  medals  ;  eight  silver  medals  ;  thirty- 
six  in  bronze,  gilded  with  a  Florentine  finish  ;  thirteen 
hundred  in  bronze,  and  eleven  thousand  in  white 
metal.  The  medals  thus  described  were  one-eighth 
of  an  inch  in  thickness. 

A  few,  three-sixteenths  of  an  inch  in  thickness, 
were  issued  as  follows  :  one  in  copper,  three  in  bronze 
and  thirty-six  in  bronze  struck  up  in  gold. 


426 


Jm  LY 


E  NT  Y-  S 


NE^)f|%&Sk* 


THE  BI-CENTENNIAL  CARD. 


This  card,  a  copy  of  which  printed  on  thin  paper, 
is  inserted  in  this  book,  was  issued  by  the  committee 
as  a  memento  of  the  anniversary  and  sent  to  all  sub- 
scribers to  the  celebration  fund  and  to  distinguished 
guests.  It  is  a  fine  steel  plate  and  was  printed,  for 
distribution,  on  very  thick  card-board  of  the  size 
eight  by  eleven  inches  with  gilt  beveled  edges. 
The  legend  is :  "  The  Two  Hundredth  Anni- 
versary OF  the  City  of  Albany,  New  York, 
July  Twenty-second,  1886,"  It  shows  a  copy  of 
the  arms  of  Albany,  in  the  degenerate  form,  spoken 
of  in  the  article  on  "The  City  Seals  of  Albany;"  the 
card  having  been  engraved  before  the  general  interest 
in  old  Albany,  aroused  by  the  Bi-centennial  celebra- 
tion, had  contrasted  the  arms  of  Albany  now  in  use, 
with  the  original  design  found  on  Simeon  De  Witt's 
old  map  of  Albany,  dated  1790.  We  regret  that  the 
committee  did  not  have  a  copy  of  the  proper  arms 
engraved  for  this  book ;  but  a  general  idea  of  their 
appearance  can  be  had  from  an  inspection  of  the 
Bi-centennial  flag  (flag  No.  17),  where  they  are  re- 
produced, and  from  the  shield  in  the  engraving  of  the 
Bi-centennial  medal. 

In  the  flag  the  supporters  are  standing,  according 
to  heraldic  rules,  not  sitting  as  in  the  card,  and  there 
are  no  details  of  landscape  in  the  correct  arms.  The 
errors  are  not  the  fault  of  the  engraver,  but  of  the 
authorities  which  allowed   the  arms  to  degenerate. 

427 


The  center  of  the  card  contains  a  contrast  between 
old  and  new  Albany,  1 686-1 886. 

In  1695  Rev.  John  Miller  visited  Albany,  and  the 
account  of  his  visit  was  published  in  a  book  entitled : 
"  Description  of  the  Province  and  City  of  New  York, 
with  the  plans  of  the  city  and  several  forts  as  existed 
in  the  year  1695,"  ^""^  accompanying  the  book  there 
was  a  map  or  plan  of  the  city  of  Albany,  drawn  with 
great  circumspection  and  detail.  Describing  Albany 
he  says :  "  It  is  in  circumference  about  six  furlongs, 
and  hath  therein  about  200  houses,  a  fourth  part  of 
what  there  is  reckoned  to  be  in  New  York. 

"  The  form  of  it  is  septangular,  and  the  longest 
line  (is)  that  which  buts  upon  the  river  running  from 
north  to  south.  On  the  west  angle  is  the  fort, 
quadrangular,  strongly  stockadoed  and  ditched  round, 
having  in  it  twenty-one  pieces  of  ordnance  mounted. 

"  On  the  north-west  side  are  two  block-houses,  and 
on  the  south-west  as  many ;  on  the  south-east  angle 
stands  one  block-house ;  in  the  middle  of  the  line 
from  thence  northward  is  a  horned  work,  and  on  the 
north-east  angle  a  mount.  The  whole  city  is  well 
stockadoed  round,  and  in  the  several  fortifications 
named  are  about  thirty  guns." 

The  artist  has  endeavored,  by  closely  following  the 
map  accompanying  the  book,  to  give  an  idea  of  Albany 
as  it  appeared  in  1686,  and  from  the  letter-press 
description  accompanying  the  map,  has  fairly  suc- 
ceeded in  his  task. 

The  largest  picture  is  a  view  of  Albany  in  1886, 
looking  from  Bath ;  it  illustrates,  by  the  contrast  with 
the    1686  picture,  Albany's  material  growth  in  two 

428 


hundred  years,  and  its  beauty  as  a  city  in  the  Bi-cen- 
tennial  year. 

In  the  lower  vignette  is  an  idealized  picture  of 
Dongan,  Schuyler  and  Livingston,  meeting  in  Albany 
in  1686. 

The  house,  upon  the  stoop  of  which  Dongan  stands, 
is  a  correct  drawing  of  the  entrance  to  the  celebrated 
Lydius  house,  built  of  bricks  brought  from  Holland 
in  1657,  which  stood  on  the  north-east  corner  of 
State  and  Pearl  streets  (Dexter's  corner,  so  called). 
It  was  torn  down  in  1832.  Opposite  is  the  Schuyler 
house,  lately  known  as  the  Staats  corner,  demolished 
in  1887  to  make  room  for  the  Albany  County  Bank 
building. 

The  card  is  an  excellent  specimen  of  steel  engrav- 
ing and  a  credit  to  Albany  art  in  1886. 


429 


DONGAN    CHARTER. 


I.  THOMAS  DONGAN,  Lieutenant  and  Governor  of 
the  Province  of  New-York,  and  Dependencies  in 
America,  under  his  most  sacred  Majesty,  JAMES  the 
Second,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  of  England,  Scot- 
land, France  and  Ireland,  King,  Defender  of  the 
Faith,  and  so  forth,  and  Supreme  Lord  and  Proprietor 
of  the  said  Province  of  New-York,  and  its  Depend- 
encies : 

To  all  persons  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  or  may  come, 
or  in  any  wise  coficern,  Sendeth  Greeting  : 

2.  WHEREAS  the  town  of  Albany  is  an  ancient  town 
within  the  said  Province,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  said 
town  have  held,  used  and  enjoyed,  as  well  within  the  same 
as  elsewhere  within  the  said  Province,  divers  and  sundry 
Rights,  Liberties,  Privileges,  Franchises,  F?'ee  Custotns, 
Preheminences,  Advantages,  ynrisdictiojis,  Eitwhiments  and 
Immunities,  as  well  by  prescription  as  by  Grants,  Confirma- 
tions and  Proclamations,  not  only  by  divers  Governors  and 
Commanders-in-Chief  in  the  said  Province,  under  his  said 
Majesty ;  but  also  of  several  Governors,  Generals  and 
Commanders-in-Chief  of  the  Nether  Dutch  nation,  whilst 
the  same  was  or  has  been  under  their  power  and  subjection. 
And  Whereas  divers  lands,  tenements,  and  hereditaments, 
jurisdictions,  liberties,  immunities  and  privileges,  have  here- 
tofore been  given  and  granted  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  said 
town,  sometimes  by  the  name  of  the  Commissaries  of  the 
town  of  Beverwyck  ;  sometimes  by  the  name  of  the  Com- 
missaries of  the  town  of  Albany  ;  sometimes  by  the  name  of 
Schepeneji  of  William- Stadt ;  and  sometimes  by  the  name 
of  yustices  of  the  Peace  for  the  town  of  Albany  ;  and  by 
divers,  other  names,  as  by  their  several  grants,  writings, 
records  and  minutes,  amongst  other  things,  may  more  fully 
appear.     And  Whereas  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  town 

431 


have  erected,  built  and  appropriated,  at  their  own  proper 
cost  and  charges,  several  public  buildings,  accommodations 
and  conveniences,  for  the  said  town,  as  also  certain  pieces 
or  parcels  of  ground  for  the  use  of  the  same,  that  is  to  say, 
the  town-hall  or  stadt-house,  with  the  ground  thereunto 
belonging ;  the  church  or  meeting  place,  with  the  ground 
about  the  same  ;  the  burial  place,  adjoining  to  the  pallisades, 
at  the  south-east  end  of  the  town ;  the  watch-house  and 
ground  thereunto  belonging  ;  a  certain  piece  or  parcel  of 
land,  commonly  called  or  known  by  the  name  of  the  pas- 
ture, situate,  lying  and  being  to  the  south-ward  of  the  said 
town,  near  the  place  where  the  old  fort  stood,  and  extending 
along  Hudson's  River,  till  it  comes  over  against  the  most 
northerly  point  of  the  island,  commonly  called  Martin 
Gerritsen  s  Islafui,  having  to  the  east  Hudson's  River,  to 
the  south,  the  manor  of  Rensselaer^vick,  to  the  west  the 
highway  leading  to  the  town,  the  pasture  late  in  the  tenure 
and  occupation  of  Marti?i  Gerretsen^  and  the  pasture  late 
in  the  tenure  and  occupation  of  Casper  y^acobse,  to  the  north 
the  several  pastures  late  in  the  tenure  and  occupation  of 
Robert  Sanders,  Mytidert  Harm  ens  e  and  Evert  Wendell, 
and  the  several  gardens  late  in  the  tenure  and  occupation 
of  Dirk  Wessels,  Killian  Van  Rensselaer  and  Abraham 
Staast,  with  their  and  every  of  their  appurtenances ;  and 
also  have  established  and  settled  one  ferry  from  the  said 
town  to  Greefibush,  situate  on  the  other  side  of  Hudson's 
River,  for  the  accommodation  and  conveniency  of  passen- 
gers, the  said  citizens  and  travellers  :  And  Whekeas  seve- 
ral of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  do  hold  from  and  under 
his  most  sacred  Majesty,  respectively,  as  well  by  several  and 
respective  patents,  grants  and  conveyances,  made  and  granted 
by  the  late  Governors  and  Commanders-in-Chief  of  the 
said  Province,  as  otherwise,  several  and  respective  messuages, 
lands,  tenements  and  hereditaments,  in  the  town  of  Albany 
aforesaid,  and  that  the  said  inhabitants  of  the  said  town  of 
Albany,  and  their  heirs  and  assigns  respectively,  may  hold, 
exercise  and  enjoy,  not  only  such  and  the  same  liberties, 
privileges,  franchises,  rights,  royalties,  free  customs,  jurisdic- 
tions and  immunities,  as  they  anciently  have  had,  held,  used 
and  enjoyed,  but  also  such  public  buildings,  accommodations, 
conveniences,  messuages,  lands  tenements  and  heredit«iments 
in  the  said  town  of  Albany,  which,  as  aforesaid,  have  been 
by  the  inhabitants  erected  and  built,  or  which  have,  as  afore- 

432 


said,  been  held,  enjoyed,  granted  and  conveyed  unto  them, 
or  any  of  them,  respectively. 

3.  Know  ye  therefore.  That  I,  the  said  Thomas  Don- 
gan,  by  virtue  of  the  commission  and  authority  unto  me 
given  and  power  in  me  presiding,  at  the  humble  petition  of 
the  Justices  of  the  Peace  of  the  said  town  of  Albany,  and 
for  divers  other  good  causes  and  considerations  me  thereunto 
moving,  have  given,  granted,  ratified  and  confirmed,  and 
by  these  presents,  for  and  on  behalf  of  his  most  sacred 
Majesty  aforesaid,  his  heirs  and  successors,  do  give,  grant, 
ratify  and  confirm  unto  the  said  inhabitants  of  the  said  town, 
hereinafter  agreed  to  be  called  by  the  name  or  names  of  The 
Mayor,  Alder fticit,  and  Commonalty  of  the  City  of  Albany, 
all  and  every  such  and  the  same  liberties,  privileges,  fran- 
chises, rights,  royalties,  free  customs,  jurisdictions  and  im- 
munities, which  they  have  anciently  had,  held  and  enjoyed ; 
Provided  always,  That  none  of  the  said  liberties,  privi- 
leges, franchises,  rights,  free  customs,  jurisdictions  or  immu- 
nities, be  inconsistent  with,  or  repugnant  to,  the  laws  of  his 
Majesty's  kingdom  of  Jlfigland,  or  other  the  laws  of  the 
general  assembly  of  this  Province  ;  and  the  aforesaid  public 
buildings,  accommodations  and  conveniences,  pieces  or  par- 
cels of  ground  in  the  said  town,  that  is  to  say,  The  said 
town-hall  or  stadt-house,  with  the  ground  thereunto  belong- 
ing ;  the  said  church  or  meeting-place,  with  the  ground 
about  the  same ;  the  said  burying-place,  the  watch  house 
and  ground  thereto  belonging ;  the  said  pasture  and  the 
afore-mentioned  ferry,  with  their  and  every  of  their  rights, 
members  and  appurtenances,  together  with  all  the  profits, 
benefits  and  advantages  that  shall  or  may  accrue  or  arise  at 
all  times  hereafter,  for  anchorage  or  wharfage  in  the  harbor, 
port  or  wharf  of  the  said  city,  with  all  and  singular  the  rents, 
issues,  profits,  gains  and  advantages  which  shall  or  may  arise, 
grow  or  accrue  by  the  said  town-hall  or  stadt-house,  and  the 
ground  thereunto  belonging  ;  church  or  meeting  place,  with 
the  ground  about  the  same;  burying-place,  watch-house, 
pasture,  ferry,  and  other  the  above  mentioned  premises,  or 
any  of  them,  and  also  all  and  every  the  streets,  lanes,  high- 
ways and  alleys,  within  the  said  city,  for  the  public  use  and 
service  of  the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of 
the  said  city,  and  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  places  adjacent, 
and  travellers  there ;  together  with  full  power,  license  and 
authority  to  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty,  and 

433 


their  successors  for  ever,  to  establish,  appoint,  order  and 
direct  the  estabUshing,  making,  laying  out,  ordering,  amend- 
ing and  repairing  of  all  streets,  lanes,  alleys,  highways  and 
bridges,  water-courses  and  ferries,  in  and  throughout  the  said 
city,  or  leading  to  the  same,  necessary,  needful  and  conven- 
ient for  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  city  and  the  parts  adja- 
cent, and  for  travellers  there :  Provided  always.  That 
the  said  license  so  as  above  granted  for  the  establishing, 
making  and  laying  out  streets,  lanes,  alleys,  highways,  ferries 
and  bridges,  be  not  extended  or  construed  to  extend,  to 
the  taking  away  of  any  person  or  persons  right  or  property, 
without  his  or  their  consent,  or  by  some  known  law  of  the 
said  Province.  And  for  the  consideration  aforesaid,  I  do 
likewise  give,  grant,  ratify  and  confirm  unto  all  and  every 
the  respective  inhabitants  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and 
their  several  and  respective  heirs  and  assigns,  all  and  every 
the  several  respective  messuages,  lands,  tenements  and  here- 
ditaments, situate,  lying  and  being  in  the  said  city,  to  them 
severally  and  respectively  granted,  conveyed  and  confirmed 
by  any  the  late  Governors,  Lieutenants,  or  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  said  Province,  or  by  the  Commissaries  or 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  or  other  Magistrates  of  Albany 
aforesaid,  or  otherwise  howsoever ;  To  Hold  to  their  sev- 
eral and  respective  heirs  and  assigns  for  ever. 

4.  And  I  do,  by  these  presents,  give  and  grant  to  the 
said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  said  city  of 
Albany,  all  the  waste,  vacant,  unpatented  and  unappropri- 
ated land  lying  and  being  within  the  said  city  of  Albany, 
and  the  precincts  and  liberties  thereof,  extending  and  reach- 
ing to  the  low  water  mark,  in,  by  and  through  all  parts  of 
the  said  city ;  together  with  all  rivers,  rivulets,  coves,  creeks, 
ponds,  water- courses,  in  the  said  city,  not  heretofore  given 
or  granted  by  any  of  the  former  Governors,  Lieutenants,  or 
Commanders-in-Chief,  under  their  or  some  of  their  respect- 
ive hands  and  seals,  or  the  seal  of  the  Province,  to  some 
respective  person  or  persons,  late  inhabitants  of  the  said 
city,  or  of  other  parts  of  the  said  Province ;  and  also  the 
royalties  of  fishing,  fowling,  hunting,  hawking,  mines,  min- 
erals and  other  royalties  and  privileges  belonging  or  apper- 
taining to  the  city  of  Albany,  gold  and  silver  mines  only 
excepted. 

5.  And  I  do,  by  these  presents,  give,  grant  and  confirm 
unto  the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  said 

434 


city  of  Albany,  and  their  successors,  forever,  full  and  free 
license  and  liberty  of  fishing  in  Hudson's  River,  not  only 
within  the  hmits  of  the  said  city,  but  without,  even  so  far 
northward  and  southward  as  the  river  does  extend  itself, 
within  the  said  county  of  Albany,  together  with  free  liberty, 
license  and  authority,  to  and  for  the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen 
and  Commonalty  of  the  said  city  of  Albany  aforesaid,  and 
their  successors,  at  all  time  and  times  hereafter,  for  and 
during  the  space  of  one  and  twenty  years,  from  and  after 
the  fourth  day  of  JVove??iber,  last  past,  to  be  accomplished, 
and  fully  to  be  complete  and  ended,  to  cut  down  and  carry 
away,  out  of  any  part  of  the  manor  of  Retisselaerwyck, 
(provided  it  be  not  within  any  fenced  or  enclosed  land)  such 
firewood  and  timber,  for  building  and  fencing,  as  to  them 
shall  seem  meet  and  convenient. 

6.  And  I  do,  by  these  presents,  grant  unto  the  said  Mayor, 
Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  city  of  Albany,  and 
their  successors  forever  hereafter,  all  such  strays  as  shall  be 
taken  within  the  limit,  precincts  and  bounds  of  the  said  city. 

7.  And  I  do,  by  these  presents,  give  and  grant  unto  the 
said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty,  of  the  city  of 
Albany,  and  their  successors,  full  liberty  and  hcense,  at 
their  pleasure,  to  purchase  from  the  Indiatts,  the  quantity 
of  five  hundred  acres  of  low  or  meadow  land,  lying  at  a 
certain  place,  called  or  known  by  the  name  of  Schaaghte- 
cogue,  which  quantity  of  five  hundred  acres  shall  and  may 
be,  in  what  part  of  Schaaghtecogne,  or  the  land  adjacent,  as 
they,  the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the 
city  of  Albany,  shall  think  most  convenient. 

8.  And  I  do,  by  these  presents,  give  and  grant  unto  the 
said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty,  full  power  and 
license  at  their  pleasure,  likewise  to  purchase  from  the 
Indians^  the  quantity  of  one  thousand  acres  of  low  or 
meadow  land,  lying  at  a  certain  place,  called  or  known  by 
the  name  of  Tionnondoroge,  which  quantity  of  one  thou- 
sand acres  of  low  or  meadow  land,  shall  and  may  be,  in 
what  part  of  Tlontiondoroge,  or  the  land  adjacent  on  both 
sides  of  the  river,  as  they  the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and 
Commonalty  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  shall  think  most 
convenient ;  which  said  several  parcels  of  low  or  meadow 
land,  I  do  hereby,  in  behalf  of  his  said  Majesty,  his  heirs 
and  successors,  give,  grant  and  confirm  unto  the  said  M  ayor, 
Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  city  of  Albany  afore- 

435 


said,  to  be  and  remain  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  them  and 
their  successors  forever.  To  havp:  and  to  hold,  all  and 
singular  the  premises,  to  the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and 
Commonalty  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and  their  succes- 
sors forever,  RENDERING  and  paying  therefor  unto  his 
most  sacred  Majesty,  his  heirs,  successors  and  assigns  or  to 
such  officer  or  receiver,  as  shall  be  appointed  to  receive  the 
same,  yearly,  forever  hereafter,  the  annual  quit-rent  or 
acknowledgement  of  one  beaver  skin,  in  Albany,  on  the 
five  and  twentieth  day  of  March,  yearly  and  forever. 

9.  And  moreover,  I  will,  and  by  these  presents  for  his 
said  Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  grant,  appoint,  and 
declare,  that  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and  the  compass,  pre- 
cincts, and  limits  thereof,  and  the  jurisdiction  of  the  same, 
shall  from  henceforth  extend  and  reach  itself,  and  shall  and 
may  be  able  to  reach  forth  and  extend  itself,  as  well  in 
length  and  breadth,  as  in  circuit,  on  the  east  by  HudsojCs 
River,  so  far  as  low  water  mark  ;  to  the  south,  by  a  line  to 
be  drawn  from  the  southermost  end  of  the  pasture,  at  the 
north  end  of  the  said  island,  called  Martin  Gerriison's 
Island,  running  back  into  the  woods,  sixteen  English  miles 
due  northwest,  to  a  certain  kill  or  creek,  called  the  Sand- 
Kill ;  on  the  north,  to  a  line  to  be  drawn  from  the  post, 
that  was  set  by  Governor  Stnyvesant,  near  Hiidsoti^s  River, 
running  likewise,  northwest  sixteen  Ejiglish  miles;  and  on 
the  west  by  a  straight  line,  to  be  drawn  from  the  points  of 
the  said  north  and  south  lines ;  wherefore  by  these  presents, 
I  do  firmly  enjoin  and  command  for  and  on  behalf  of  his 
said  Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  that  the  aforesaid 
Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  city  aforesaid, 
and  their  successors,  shall  and  may  freely  and  quietly  have, 
hold,  use  and  enjoy  the  aforesaid  liberties,  authorities,  juris- 
dictions, franchises,  rights,  royalties,  privileges,  advantages, 
exemptions,  lands,  tenements,  hereditaments  and  premises, 
aforesaid,  in  manner  and  form  aforesaid,  according  to  the 
tenure  and  eftect  of  the  aforesaid  grants,  patents,  customs, 
and  these  letters  patent  of  grant  and  confirmation,  without 
the  let,  hindrance  or  impediment  of  any  of  his  Majesty's 
Governors,  Lieutenants,  or  other  officers  whatsoever;  and 
that  the  said  mayor.  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the 
city  aforesaid,  and  their  successors  or  any  of  them,  in  the 
free  use  and  enjoyment  of  the  premises,  or  any  of  them,  by 
the  Lieutenants  or  Governors  of  his  said   Majesty,  his  heirs 

436 


and  successors,  or  by  any  of  them,  shall  not  be  hindered, 
molested,  or  in  any  wise  disturbed. 

10.  And  also,  I  do,  for  and  on  the  behalf  of  his  most  sacred 
Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  ordain  and  grant  to  the 
Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  city  of  Albany, 
and  their  successors,  by  these  presents,  that  for  the  better 
government  of  the  said  city,  liberties  and  precincts  thereof, 
there  shall  be  forever  hereafter,  within  the  said  city,  a 
Mayor,  Recorder,  Town-Clerk,  and  six  Aldermen  and  six 
Assistants,  to  be  appointed,  nominated,  elected,  chosen  and 
sworn,  as  hereinafter  is  particularly  and  respectively  men- 
tioned, who  shall  be  forever  hereafter,  called  the  Mayor, 
Alderme?i,  and  Co7ntno7ialty  of  the  city  <?/ Albany,  and  that 
there  shall  be  forever,  one  Chamberlain  or  Treasurer,  one 
Sheriff,  one  Coroner,  one  Clerk  of  the  Market,  one  High- 
Constable,  three  Sub-Constables,  and  one  Marshal  or  Ser- 
geant at  Mace,  to  be  appointed,  chosen  and  sworn  in  man- 
ner hereinafter  mentioned. 

11.  And  I  do,  by  these  presents,  for  and  on  behalf  of  his 
most  sacred  Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  ordain,  declare, 
constitute,  grant  and  appoint,  that  the  Mayor,  Recorder, 
Aldermen  and  Assistants  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  for 
the  time  being,'and  their  successors  forever  hereafter,  be  and 
shall  be,  by  force  of  these  presents  one  body  corporate  and 
politic,  in  deed,  fact  and  name,  by  the  name  of  The  Mayor, 
Aldermen  arid  Commonalty  of  the  city  of  Albany  ;  and 
them  by  the  name  of  the  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Comtnon- 
alty  of  the  city  of  Albany,  one  body  corporate  and  politic, 
in  deed,  fact  and  name  ;  and  I  do  really  and  fully  create, 
ordain,  make,  constitute  and  confirm,  by  these  presents,  and 
that  by  the  name  of  The  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty 
of  the  city  of  Albany,  that  they  may  have  perpetual  suc- 
cession, and  that  they  and  their  successors,  forever  by  the 
name  of  the  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Cotmnonalty  of  the  city 
<?/ Albany,  be  and  shall  be,  forever  hereafter,  persons  able, 
and  in  law  capable  to  have,  get,  receive  and  possess  lands, 
tenements,  rents,  liberties,  jurisdictions,  franchises  and 
hereditaments,  to  them  and  their  successors,  in  fee  simple,  or 
for  term  of  life,  lives  or  years,  or  otherwise ;  and  also  goods 
and  chattels,  and  also  other  things  of  what  nature,  quality 
or  kind  soever ;  and  also  to  give,  grant,  let,  set  and  assign 
the  said  lands,  tenements,  hereditaments,  goods  and  chattels, 
and  to  do  and  execute  all  other  things  in  and  about  the  same 

437 


by  the  name  aforesaid ;  and  also,  that  they  be,  and  forever 
shall  be,  persons  able  in  law,  capable  to  plead,  and  be  im- 
pleaded, answer,  and  be  answered  unto,  defend  and  be  de- 
fended, in  all  or  any  of  the  courts  of  his  said  Majesty,  and 
other  places  whatsoever,  and  before  any  Judges,  Justices, 
and  other  person  or  persons  whatsoever,  in  all  and  all  man- 
ner of  actions,  suits,  complaints,  demands,  pleas,  causes,  and 
matters  whatsoever,  of  what  nature,-  kind,  or  quality  soever, 
in  the  same,  and  the  like  manner  and  form  as  other  people 
of  this  Province,  being  persons  able  and  in  law  capable,  may 
plead  and  be  impleaded,  answer  and  be  answered  unto, 
defend  and  be  defended,  by  any  lawful  ways  or  means  what- 
soever ;  and  that  the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Common- 
alty of  the  city  of  Albany,  and  their  successors,  shall  and 
may  forever  hereafter,  have  one  common  seal  to  serve  for 
the  sealing  of  all  and  singular  their  affairs  and  business, 
touching  or  concerning  the  said  corporation.  And  it  shall 
and  may  be  lawful  to  and  for  the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and 
Commonalty  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and  their  succes- 
sors, as  they  shall  see  cause,  to  break,  change,  alter  and  new 
make  their  said  common  seal,  and  as  often  as  to  them  shall 
seem  convenient. 

12.  And  further  know  ye,  that  I  have  assigned,  named, 
ordained  and  constituted,  and  by  these  presents,  do  assign, 
name,  ordain  and  constitute,  Peter  Schuyler,  to  be  the  present 
Mayor  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and  that  the  said  Peter 
Schuyler  shall  remain  and  continue  in  the  office  of  Mayor 
there,  until  another  fit  person  shall  be  appointed  and  sworn 
in  the  said  office,  as  in  and  by  these  presents,  is  hereafter 
mentioned  and  directed.  And  I  have  assigned,  named,  or- 
dained and  constituted,  and  by  these  presents  do  assign, 
name,  ordain  and  constitute,  Isaac  Swifiion,  to  be  the  present 
Recorder  of  the  said  city,  to  do  and  execute  all  things,  which 
unto  the  office  of  Recorder  of  the  said  city  doth,  or  may  any 
way  appertain  or  belong.  And  I  have  assigned,  named,  or- 
dained and  constituted,  and  by  these  presents  do  ordain,  con- 
stitute, create  and  declare,  Robert  Livi?igston,  Town  Clerk 
of  the  said  city  ;  to  do  and  execute  all  things  which  unto  the 
office  of  Town  Clerk,  doth  or  may  belong.  And  also  I  have 
named,  assigned,  constituted  and  made,  and  by  these  presents 
do  assign,  constitute  and  make  Dirk  IVessels,  j/^ati  y^ans 
Bleecker,  David  Schuyler,  j/^ohanfiis  Wendell,  Lavinus  Van 
Schaick  and  Adrian  Garritse,  citizens  and  inhabitants  of  the 

438 


said  city  of  Albany,  to  be  the  present  Aldermen  of  said  city. 
And  also  I  have  made,  assigned,  named  and  constituted,  and 
by  these  presents  do  make,  assign,  name  and  constitute, 
'J^oachim  Staats,  yohn  La?isifig,  Isaac  Verplanck^  Lawrence 
Van  Ale,  Albert  Ryckman,  and  Melgert  IVmantse,  citizens 
and  inhabitants  of  the  said  city,  to  be  the  present  Assistants 
of  the  said  city.  Also  I  have  assigned,  chosen,  named  and 
constituted,  J^afi  Bleecker,  citizen  and  inhabitant  of  the  said 
city,  to  be  the  present  Chamberlain  or  Treasurer  of  the  city 
aforesaid.  And  I  have  assigned,  named,  constituted  and 
appointed,  and  by  these  presents  do  assign,  name,  constitute 
and  appoint,  Richard  Pretty,  one  of  the  said  citizens  there, 
to  be  the  present  Sheriff  of  the  said  city.  And  I  have 
assigned,  named,  constituted  and  appointed,  and  by  these 
presents  do  assign,  name,  constitute  and  appoint,  jFatnes 
Parker,  one  other  of  the  said  citizens,  to  be  the  present 
Marshal  of  the  said  city. 

13.  And  I  do,  by  these  presents,  grant  to  the  said  Mayor, 
Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  said  city  of  Albany, 
and  theii  successors,  that  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  Aldermen 
and  Assistants  of  the  said  city,  for  the  time  being,  or  the 
Mayor  and  any  three  or  more  of  the  Aldermen,  and  any 
three  or  more  of  the  Assistants,  of  the  said  city,  for  the  time 
being,  be,  and  shall  be  called,  the  Covwion-  Council  of  the 
said  city,  and  that  they  or  the  greater  part  of  them,  shall 
or  may  have  full  power  and  authority,  by  virtue  of  these 
presents,  from  time  to  time  to  call  and  hold  Common  Coun- 
cil, within  the  Common  Council  House,  or  City  Hall  of  the 
said  city  ;  and  there,  as  occasion  shall  be,  to  make  laws, 
orders,  ordinances,  and  constitutions  in  writing  ;  and  to  add, 
alter,  diminish,  and  reform  them,  from  time  to  time,  as  to 
them  shall  seem  necessary  and  convenient,  (not  repugnant 
to  the  prerogative  of  the  King's  Majesty,  his  heirs  or  suc- 
cessors, or  to  any  laws  of  the  kingdom  of  Englarid,  or  other 
the  laws  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Province  of  New- 
York  aforesaid)  for  the  good  rule,  oversight,  correction,  and 
government  of  the  said  city,  and  liberties  of  the  same,  and 
of  all  the  officers  thereof,  and*  of  the  several  tradesmen, 
victuallers,  artificers,  and  of  all  other  people  and  inhabitants 
of  the  city,  liberties  and  precincts  aforesaid,  and  for  the 
preservation  of  government,  the  hidian  trade,  and  all  other 
commerce  and  dealing,  and  for  disposal  of  all  the  lands, 
tenements,  and  hereditaments,  goods  and  chattels  of  the 

439 


said  corporation  ;  which  said  laws,  ordinances,  and  constitu- 
tions shall  be  binding  to  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  city, 
liberties,  and  precincts  aforesaid ;  and  which  laws,  orders, 
ordinances,  and  constitutions,  so  by  them  to  be  made  as 
aforesaid,  shall  be  and  remain  in  force,  for  the  space  of  one 
year,  and  no  longer,  unless  they  shall  be  allowed  and  con- 
firmed by  the  Governor  and  Council,  for  the  time  being. 

14.  And  further,  I  will  and  grant  to  the  said  Common 
Council  of  the  said  city,  for  the  time  being,  as  often  as  they 
make,  ordain,  and  establish  such  laws,  orders,  ordinances, 
and  constitutions  aforesaid,  shall  or  may  make,  ordain,  limit, 
provide,  set,  impose,  and  tax,  reasonable  fines  and  amercia- 
ments, against  and  upon  all  persons  offending  against  such 
laws,  orders,  ordinances,  and  constitutions  as  aforesaid,  or 
any  of  them,  to  be  made,  ordained,  and  established  as  afore- 
said, and  the  same  fines  and  amerciaments  shall  and  may 
require,  demand,  levy,  take,  and  receive,  by  warrants,  under 
the  common  seal,  to  and  for  the  use  and  behoof  of  the  Mayor, 
Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  said  city,  and  their  suc- 
cessors, either  by  distress  and  sale  of  the  goods  and  chattels 
of  the  ofienders  therein,  if  such  goods  and  chattels  may  be 
found  within  the  said  city,  liberties,  and  precints  thereof, 
rendering  to  such  offender  and  offenders  the  overplus,  or  by 
any  other  lawful  ways  or  means  whatsoever. 

15.  And  I  do,  by  these  presents,  for  the  King's  Majesty, 
his  heirs  and  successors,  approve  and  ordain  the  assigning, 
naming  and  appointing  of  the  Mayor  and  Sheriff  of  the  said 
city,  that  it  shall  be  as  followeth,  [viz.)  upon  the  feast  day 
of  St.  Michael,  the  arch  angel,  yearly,  the  Lieutenant- 
Governor  or  Commander-in-Chief,  for  the  time  being,  by 
and  with  the  advice  of  his  council,  shall  nominate  and  appoint 
such  a  person  as  he  shall  think  fit,  to  be  ^Slayor  of  the  said 
city,  for  the  year  next  ensuing ;  and  one  other  person  of 
sufficient  abihty  in  estate,  and  capacity  in  understanding, 
to  be  Sheriff  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  for  the  year  next 
ensuing ;  and  that  such  person  as  shall  be  assigned,  named, 
and  appointed  Mayor,  and  such  person  as  shall  be  assigned, 
named,  and  appointed  Sheriff  of  the  said  city  as  aforesaid, 
shall,  on  the  14th  day  of  October,  then  next  following,  in 
the  City  Hall  or  Stadt-House  aforesaid,  take  the  several  and 
respective  corporal  oaths  before  the  Recorder,  Aldermen 
and  Assistants,  or  any  three  of  the  Aldermen  and  four  of 
the  Assistants  of  the  said  city,  for  the  time  being,  for  the 

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due  execution  of  their  respective  offices  as  aforesaid  ;  and 
that  the  said  Mayor  and  Sheriff,  so  to  be  nominated  and 
appointed  as  aforesaid,  shall  remain  and  continue  in  their 
respective  offices  until  another  fit  person  shall  be  nominated, 
appointed,  and  sworn  in  the  place  of  Mayor,  and  one  other 
person  shall  be  nominated,  appointed,  and  sworn  in  the 
place  of  Sheriff  of  the  said  city,  in  manner  aforesaid  ;  which 
oaths  the  said  Recorder,  Aldermen,  and  Assistants,  or  any 
three  or  more  of  the  Aldermen,  shall  and  may  lawfully 
administer,  and  have  hereby  power  to  administer  to  the  said 
Mayor  and  the  said  Sheriff,  so  nominated  and  appointed, 
from  time  to  time,  accordingly. 

1 6.  And  further.  That  according  to  usage  and  custom, 
the  Recorder  and  Town  Clerk  of  the  said  city,  shall  be  per- 
sons of  good  capacity  and  understanding,  such  as  his  most 
sacred  Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  shall  in  the  said 
respective  offices  of  Recorder  and  Town  Clerk,  respectively 
appoint  and  commissionate  ;  and  for  defect  of  such  appoint- 
ment, and  commissionating,  by  his  most  sacred  Majesty  as 
aforesaid,  his  heirs  and  successors,  to  be  such  persons  as  the 
said  Governor,  Lieutenant  or  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
said  Province,  for  the  time  being  shall  appoint  or  commis- 
sionate ;  which  persons  so  commissionated  to  the  said  office 
of  Recorder  and  office  of  Town  Clerk  respectively,  shall 
have,  hold  and  enjoy  the  said  offices  respectively,  according 
to  the  tenor  and  effect  of  the  said  respective  commissions, 
and  not  otherwise. 

17.  And  further,  I  will,  that  the  Recorder,  Town  Clerk, 
Aldermen,  Assistants,  Chamberlain,  High- Constables,  Petty- 
Constables,  and  all  other  officers  of  the  said  city,  before  they, 
or  any  of  them  shall  be  admitted  to  enter  upon  and  execute 
the  respective  offices,  shall  be  sworn  faithfully  to  execute  the 
same,  before  the  Mayor,  or  any  three  or  more  of  the  Alder- 
men, for  the  time  being.  And  I  do,  by  these  presents,  for 
and  on  behalf  of  his  said  Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors, 
grant  and  give  power  and  authority  to  the  Mayor  and  Re- 
corder of  the  said  city,  for  the  time  being,  to  administer  the 
same  respective  oaths  to  them  accordingly. 

18.  And  further,  I  will,  and  by  these  presents,  do  grant 
for  and  on  behalf  of  his  most  sacred  Majesty,  his  heirs  and 
successors,  that  the  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Recorder  of  the 
said  city,  for  the  time  being,  shall  be  justices  and  keepers  of 
the  peace  of  his  said  Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  and 

441 


justices  to  hear  and  determine  matters  and  causes  within  the 
said  city,  Hberties  and  precincts  thereof;  and  that  they  or 
any  three  or  more  of  them,  shall  and  may  forever  hereafter 
have  power  and  authority,  by  virtue  of  these  presents,  to 
hear  and  determine  all  and  all  manner  of  petty  larcenies, 
riots,  routs,  oppressions,  extortions,  and  all  other  trespasses 
and  offences  whatsoever,  within  the  said  city  of  Albany, 
and  the  limits,  precincts  and  liberties  thereof,  from  time  to 
time,  arising  and  happening,  and  which  shall  arise  or  happen, 
and  any  way  belong  to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  correction  and  punishment  of  the  offenders  aforesaid, 
and  every  of  them,  according  to  the  laws  of  England,  and 
the  laws  of  the  said  Province ;  and  to  do  and  execute  all 
other  things  in  the  said  city,  hberties  and  precincts  as  afore- 
said, so  fully  and  in  as  ample  a  manner  as  to  the  commis- 
sioners assigned,  and  to  be  assigned  for  the  keeping  of  the 
peace  in  the  said  city  and  county  of  Albany,  doth  or  may 
belong. 

19.  And  moreover,  I  do,  by  these  presents,  for  his 
Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  will  and  appoint  that  the 
Aldermen  and  Assistants,  within  the  said  city,  be  yearly 
chosen  on  the  feast  day  of  St.  Michael  the  archangel,  for 
ever,  {viz.)  two  Aldermen  and  two  Assistants  for  each  re- 
spective ward,  in  such  public  place  in  the  said  respective 
wards,  as  the  Aldermen  for  the  time  being,  for  each  ward, 
shall  direct  and  appoint,  and  that  by  the  majority  of  voices 
of  the  inhabitants  of  each  ward  ;  and  that  the  Chamberlain 
shall  be  yearly  chosen,  on  the  said  feast  day,  in  the  city-hall 
of  the  said  city,  by  the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Assist- 
ants of  the  said  city,  or  by  the  Mayor  or  three  or  more  of 
the  Aldermen,  and  three  or  more  of  the  Assistants  of  said 
city,  for  the  time  being.  And  I  do,  by  these  presents, 
constitute  and  appoint  Robert  Livingston  to  be  the  present 
Town  Clerk,  Clerk  of  the  Peace,  and  Clerk  of  the  Court  of 
Pleas,  to  be  holden  before  the  Mayor,  Recorder  and  Alder- 
men within  the  said  city,  and  the  liberties  and  precincts 
thereof. 

20.  And  further,  I  do,  by  these  presents,  for  his  said 
Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  require  and  straitly  charge 
and  command,  that  the  sheriff,  Town  Clerk,  Clerk  of  tiie 
Peace,  High-Constable,  Petty-Constable,  and  all  other  sub- 
ordinate officers  in  the  said  city,  for  the  time  being,  and 
every  of  them  respectively,  jointly  and  severally,  as  causes 

442 


shall  require,  shall  attend  upon  the  said  Mayor,  Recorder 
and  Aldermen  of  the  said  city  for  the  time  being,  and  every 
or  any  of  them,  accord mg  to  the  duty  of  their  respective 
place,  in  and  about  the  executing  of  such  the  commands, 
precepts,  warrants  and  process  of  them,  and  every  of  them, 
as  belongeth  and  appertaineth  to  be  done  or  executed. 

21.  And  that  the  aforesaid  Mayor,  Recorder  and  Alder- 
men, and  every  one  of  them,  as  justices  of  the  peace,  for 
the  time  being,  by  their  or  any  of  their  warrants,  all  and 
every  person  or  persons,  for  high  treason  or  petty  treason, 
or  for  suspicion  thereof,  and  for  other  felonies  whatsoever, 
and  all  malefactors  and  disturbers  of  the  peace,  and  other 
offenders  for  any  other  misdemeanors,  who  shall  be  appre- 
hended within  the  said  city  or  libeties  thereof,  or  without 
the  same  in  any  part  within  the  said  county,  shall  and  may 
send  and  commit,  or  cause  to  be  sent  and  committed  to  the 
common  gaol  of  the  said  city,  there  to  remain  and  be  kept 
in  safe  custody  by  the  keeper  of  the  said  gaol,  or  his  deputy 
for  the  time  being,  until  such  offender  and  offenders  shall  be 
lawfully  delivered  thence. 

22.  And  I  do,  by  these  presents,  for  his  said  Majesty, 
his  heirs  and  successors,  charge  and  require  the  keeper  and 
keepers  of  the  said  gaol  for  the  time  being,  and  his  and 
their  deputy  or  deputies,  to  receive  and  take  into  safe  cus- 
tody, to  keep  all  and  singular  such  ])erson  and  persons  so 
apprehended  or  to  be  apprehended,  sent  and  committed  unto 
the  said  gaol,  by  warrant  of  the  said  justices,  or  any  of  them 
as  aforesaid,  until  he  or  they  so  sent  and  committed  to  the 
said  gaol,  shall  from  thence  be  delivered  by  due  course  of 
law. 

23.  And  further,  I  grant  and  confirm,  for  his  said 
Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  that  the  said  Mayor  of  the 
said  city  for  the  time  being,  and  no  other,  shall  have  power 
and  authority  to  give  and  grant  licenses  annually,  under  the 
public  seal  of  the  said  city,  to  all  tavern-keepers,  inn-keepers, 
ordinary  keepers,  victuallers,  and  all  public  sellers  of  wine, 
strong  waters,  cider,  beer,  or  any  other  sort  of  liquors  by 
retail  within  the  city  aforesaid,  or  the  liberties  and  precincts 
thereof,  or  without  the  same  in  any  part  of  the  said  county, 
and  that  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  to  and  for  the  said 
Mayor  of  the  said  city  for  the  time  being,  to  ask,  demand 
and  receive  for  each  license  by  him  to  be  given  and  granted 
as  aforesaid,  such  sum  or  sums  of  money,  as  he  and  the 

443 


person  to  whom  such  hcense  may  be  given  or  granted  shall 
agree  for,  not  exceeding  the  sum  of  thirty  shillings,  current 
money  of  this  country  for  each  license ;  all  which  money, 
as  by  the  Mayor  shall  be  so  received,  shall  be  used  and  ap- 
plied to  the  public  use  of  the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and 
Commonalty  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  without  any  ac- 
count thereof  to  be  rendered,  made  or  done  to  his  said 
Majesty,  his  heirs,  successors  or  assigns,  or  any  of  his  Lieu- 
tenants or  Governors  of  the  said  Province,  for  the  time 
being,  or  any  of  their  deputies. 

24.  And  further,  I  do  grant  for  his  said  Majesty,  his 
heirs  and  successors,  that  the  said  Mayor  of  the  said  city 
for  the  time  being,  and  no  other,  be  and  foi  ever  shall  be 
Clerk  of  the  market  within  the  said  city  aforesaid,  and  the 
liberties  and  precincts  thereof;  and  that  he,  and  no  other 
shall  and  may  forever  do,  execute  and  perform  all  and  singu- 
lar acts,  deeds  and  things  whatsoever,  belonging  to  the  office 
of  Clerk  of  the  market  within  the  city  aforesaid,  and  the 
Hberties  and  precincts  thereof,  to  be  done,  executed  and 
performed.  And  that  the  said  Mayor  of  the  said  city  for 
the  time  being,  and  no  other  person  or  persons,  shall  or 
may  have  assize  or  assay  of  bread,  wine,  beer  and  wood, 
and  other  things  to  the  office  of  Clerk  of  the  market  belong- 
ing or  concerning,  as  well  in  the  presence  as  in  the  absence 
of  his  said  Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  or  his  or  their 
Lieutenants  or  Governors  here. 

25.  Also,  I  will  and  grant  for  his  said  Majesty,  his  heirs 
and  successors,  unto  the  Alayor,  Aldennen  and  Commonalty 
of  the  said  city  for  the  time  being,  and  their  successors  for 
ever,  that  the  Mayor  of  the  said  city  aforesaid,  for  the  time 
being,  during  the  time  that  he  shall  remain  in  the  said  office 
of  Mayor,  and  no  other,  be,  or  shall  be  coroner  of  his  said 
Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  as  well  within  the  city 
aforesaid,  and  the  liberties  and  precincts  thereof,  as  without 
the  same,  within  the  limits  or  bounds  of  the  said  county ; 
and  that  he  and  no  other,  shall  do  or  cause  to  be  done  and 
executed,  within  the  said  city,  limits  and  precincts  thereof, 
or  without  the  same,  within  the  limits  and  bounds  of  the 
county,  all  and  singular  matters  and  things  to  the  said  office 
of  Coroner  belonging,  there  to  be  done.  And  that  the  said 
Mayor  of  the  said  city  for  the  time  being,  shall  take  his 
corporal  oath  before  the  Recorder,  or  any  three  or  more  of 
the  Aldermen  of  the  said  city,  well  and  duly  to  execute  the 

444 


said  office  of  Clerk  of  the  market  and  Coroner  of  the  said 
city  and  county,  before  he  take  upon  him  the  execution  of 
either  of  the  said  offices. 

26.  And  also,  I  do,  by  these  presents,  grant  unto  the 
Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  said  city  of 
Albany,  that  if  any  of  the  citizens  of  the  said  city,  or 
inhabitants  within  the  limits  or  precincts  thereof,  that  shall, 
after  being  elected,  nominated,  or  chosen  to  the  office  of 
Mayor,  Aldermen,  Assistants,  Sheriff,  or  Chamberlain  of  the 
said  city  as  aforesaid,  and  have  notice  of  his  or  their  elec- 
tion, shall  refuse  or  deny  to  take  upon  him  or  them  to  exe- 
cute that  office  to  which  they  shall  be  so  chosen  or  nomi- 
nated ;  that  then,  and  so  often  as  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful 
for  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  Aldermen,  and  Assistants  of  the 
said  city,  for  the  time  being,  or  the  Mayor,  or  any  three  of 
the  Aldermen,  and  three  or  more  of  the  Assistants  of  the 
said  city,  for  the  time  being,  to  tax,  assess,  and  impose  upon 
such  person  or  persons  so  refusing  or  denying,  such  reason- 
able or  moderate  fines  or  sums  of  money  as  to  their  discre- 
tion shall  be  thought  most  fit,  so  as  the  said  fine,  penalty  or 
sum  for  refusing  or  denying  to  hold  and  execute  the  office 
of  Mayor  of  the  said  city,  do  not  exceed  the  sum  of  twenty 
pounds,  current  money  of  this  country ;  and  the  fine  for 
refusing  or  denying  to  hold  and  execute  the  place  of  an 
Alderman,  do  not  exceed  the  sum  of  ten  pounds^  like  cur- 
rent money ;  and  the  fine  for  denying  or  refusing  to  hold 
and  execute  the  place  of  Chamberlain,  Assistant,  or  Sheriff, 
the  sum  of  five  pounds,  like  current  money. 

27.  And  I  do,  by  these  presents,  for  his  said  Majesty,  his 
heirs  and  successors,  authorize  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  Alder- 
men, and  Assistants  of  the  said  city,  for  the  time  being,  and 
the  Mayor,  and  three  or  more  of  the  Aldermen,  and  three 
or  more  of  the  Assistants  there  for  the  time  being,  to  frus- 
trate and  make  void  the  election  of  such  person  or  persons 
so  refusing  or  denying  as  aforesaid ;  and  then,  and  in  such 
cases,  any  other  fit  and  able  person  and  persons,  citizen  and 
citizens  of  the  said  city,  or  inhabiting  within  the  liberties  and 
precincts  thereof,  in  convenient  times,  to  elect  anew  in  the 
manner  aforesaid,  directed  and  prescribed  to  execute  such 
office  and  offices  so  denied  or  refused  to  be  executed  as 
aforesaid ;  and  that  if  it  shall  happen  that  such  person  or 
persons  so  to  be  elected  anew,  shall  refuse  or  deny  to  take 
upon  him  or  them  any  of  the  said  office  or  offices  unto  which 

445 


he  or  they  shall  be  chosen  and  elected  as  aforesaid ;  then 
and  in  such  case,  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  Aldermen  and 
Assistants  of  the  said  city,  for  the  time  being,  or  the  said 
Mayor,  or  three  or  more  of  the  said  Aldermen,  and  three  or 
more  of  the  Assistants  of  the  said  city  for  the  time  being, 
shall  or  may  set  and  impose  upon  them  so  denying  or  refus- 
ing, such  and  the  like  moderate  fines  as  is  before  set  down 
in  like  cases  to  the  respective  offices,  with  such  limitations 
as  aforesaid ;  and  also  in  such  and  the  like  manner  as  afore- 
said, to  continue  and  make  void  such  election  and  elections, 
and  make  new  elections  as  often  as  need  shall  be  and  require  ; 
all  which  said  fines  so  set  and  imposed,  I  do  by  these  presents, 
for  and  on  behalf  of  his  said  Majesty,  his  heirs,  successors, 
and  assigns,  grant  to  be,  and  shall  be  and  remain,  and  belong 
unto,  and  shall  be  put  into  the  possession  and  seizen  of  the 
Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  for  the  time  being,  and 
their  successors,  to  be  levied  and  taken  by  warrant  under  the 
common  seal,  and  by  distress  and  sale  of  the  goods  and 
chattels  of  the  several  persons  so  refusing  or  denying  as 
aforesaid,  if  such  goods  and  chattels  may  be  found  within 
the  said  city,  liberties  and  precincts  thereof,  rendering  to 
the  parties  the  overplus,  or  by  any  other  ways  or  lawful 
means  whatsoever,  to  the  only  use  of  the  said  Mayor, 
Aldermen,  and  Commonalty  of  the  city  of  Albany,  and 
their  successors,  without  any  account  to  be  rendered,  made 
or  done  to  the  said  King's  Majesty,  his  heirs,  successors,  or 
assigns  for  the  same. 

28.  And  know  ye,  that  for  the  better  government  of  the 
said  city,  and  for  the  welfare  of  the  citizens,  tradesmen,  and 
inhabitants  thereof,  I  do,  by  these  presents,  for  his  said 
Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  give  and  grant  to  the  said 
Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Commonalty  of  the  said  city,  and 
their  successors,  that  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  and  Aldermen, 
or  the  Mayor  or  any  three  or  more  of  the  Aldermen  for  the 
time  being,  shall  from  time  to  time,  and  at  all  times  here- 
after, have  full  power  and  authority,  under  the  common  seal, 
to  make  free  citizens  of  the  city  and  liberties  thereof;  and 
no  person  or  persons  whatsoever,  other  than  such  free  citi- 
zens, shall  hereafter  use  any  art,  trade,  mystery,  or  manual 
occupation  within  the  said  city,  liberties  and  precincts 
thereof,  saving  in  the  times  of  fairs  there  to  be  kept,  and 
during  the  continuance  of  such  fairs  only.  And  in  case  any 
person  or  persons  whatsoever,  not  being  free  citizens,  shall 

446 


hereafter  use  or  exercise  any  art,  trade,  mystery,  or  manual 
occupation,  or  shall  by  himself,  themselves,  or  others,  sell  or 
expose  to  sale  any  manner  of  merchandise  or  wares  what- 
soever by  retail,  in  any  house,  shop  or  place,  or  standing 
within  the  said  city,  or  the  liberties  or  precincts  thereof, 
no  fair  being  then  kept  in  the  said  city,  and  shall  persist 
therein  after  warning  to  him  or  them  given  or  left,  by  the 
appointment  of  the  Mayor  of  said  city,  for  the  time  being, 
at  the  place  or  places  where  such  person  or  persons  shall  so 
use  and  exercise  any  art,  trade,  mystery,  or  manual  occupa- 
tion, or  shall  sell  or  expose  to  sale  any  wares  or  merchandise 
as  aforesaid  by  retail ;  then  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  Mayor 
of  the  said  city,  for  the  time  being,  to  cause  such  shop  win- 
dows to  be  shut,  and  also  to  impose  such  reasonable  fine  for 
such  offence,  not  exceeding  twefity  shillings  for  every  res- 
pective offence  ;  and  the  same  fines  so  imposed,  to  levy 
and  take,  by  warrant,  under  the  common  seal  of  the  said 
city,  for  the  time  being,  by  distress  and  sale  of  the  goods 
and  chattels  of  the  person  or  persons  so  offending  in  the 
premises,  found  within  the  liberdes  and  precincts  of  the 
said  city,  rendering  to  the  parties  the  overplus,  or  by  any 
other  lawful  ways  or  means  whatsoever,  to  the  only  use  of 
the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Commonalty  of  the  said  city 
of  Albany,  and  their  successors,  without  any  account  to  be 
rendered,  made,  or  done  to  his  Majesty,  his  heirs  and  suc- 
cessors, or  to  his  or  their  Lieutenants,  Governors,  or  Com- 
manders-in-Chief for  the  same.  Provided  always.  That 
no  person  or  persons  shall  be  made  free  as  aforesaid,  but 
such  as  are  his  Majesty's  natural  born  subjects,  or  such  as 
shall  be  first  naturalized  by  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  or 
have  obtained  letters  of  denization,  under  the  hand  of  the 
Lieutenant  or  Governor,  or  Commander-in-Chief  for  the 
time  being,  and  the  seal  of  the  said  Province ;  and  that  all 
persons  to  be  made  free  as  aforesaid,  shall  and  do  pay  for 
the  public  use  of  the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Com- 
monalty of  the  said  city,  such  sums  of  money  as  such  person 
or  persons  so  to  be  made  free,  shall  respectively  agree  for, 
not  exceeding  the  sum  of  three  pounds  twelve  shillings  for 
the  admission  of  each  merchant  or  trader ;  and  the  sum  of 
six  and  thirty  shillings  for  the  admission  of  each  handicraft 
or  tradesman. 

29.  And  whereas,  amongst  the  other  rights,  privileges, 
preheminences,  and  advantages  which  the  citizens  and  free- 

447 


men  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and  their  predecessors, 
have  for  many  years  last  past  held,  used  and  enjoyed  the 
privileges,  preheminences,  and  advantages  of  having  within 
their  own  walls  the  sole  management  of  the  trade  with  all 
the  Indians  living  within  and  to  the  eastward,  northward 
and  westward  of  the  said  county  of  Albany,  within  the 
compass  of  his  said  Majesty's  dominion  here,  which  hath 
been  from  time  to  time  confirmed  to  them,  and  their  said 
predecessors,  as  well  by  prescription  as  by  divers  and  sundry 
grants,  orders,  confirmations,  and  proclamations,  granted, 
ordered,  confirmed,  and  issued  forth,  not  only  by  and  from 
divers  Governors  and  Commanders-in-Chief  in  the  said 
Province,  since  the  same  hath  been  under  his  said  Majesty's 
dominion,  but  also  of  several  Governors,  Generals,  and 
Commanders-in-Chief  of  the  Nether  Dutch  Nation,  whilst 
the  same  was  or  has  been  under  their  power  and  subjection, 
which  has  always  been  found  by  experience  to  be  of  great 
advantage,  not  only  to  the  said  city  in  particular,  but  to  the 
whole  Province  in  general ;  and  that  by  the  care,  caution 
and  inspection  of  the  magistrates  of  the  said  city,  to  the 
well  and  orderly  management  and  keeping  the  trade  with 
the  Indians  within  their  walls,  it  hath  returned  vastly  to 
the  advancement  of  trade  and  the  increase  of  his  Majesty's 
revenue,  and  been  the  sole  means,  not  only  of  preserving 
this  Province  in  peace  and  quiet,  whilst  the  neighboring 
colonies  were  imbrued  in  blood  and  war,  but  also  of  putting 
an  end  to  the  miseries  those  colonies  labored  under  from  the 
insulting  cruelty  of  the  Northern  Indians.  Whereas,  on 
the  other  hand,  it  has  been  no  less  evident,  that  whenever 
there  has  been  any  slackness  or  remissness  in  the  regulation 
and  keeping  the  Indian  trade  within  the  walls  of  the  said 
city,  occasioned  by  the  encroachment  of  some  persons  trading 
with  the  I?uiia?is  in  places  remote,  some  clandestinely,  others 
upon  pretence  of  hunting  passes,  and  the  like,  the  trade  not 
only  of  the  said  city,  but  the  whole  Province,  has  apparently 
decreased,  the  King's  revenue  has  been  much  impaired,  and 
not  only  so,  but  this  government  has  lost  much  of  the  repu- 
tation and  management  amongst  the  India?is,  which  it 
otherwise  had  and  enjoyed ;  wherefore,  for  and  on  behalf 
of  his  said  Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  I  have  given, 
granted,  ratified,  and  confirmed,  and  by  these  presents  do 
give,  grant,  ratify  and  confirm  unto  the  Mayor,  Aldermen, 
and    Commonalty  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and  their 

448 


successors  forever,  the  right,  privilege,  preheminence,  and 
advantage  of  the  sole  and  only  management  of  the  trade 
with  the  Indians,  as  well  within  this  whole  country,  as 
without  the  same,  to  the  eastward,  northward,  and  westward 
thereof,  so  far  as  his  Majesty's  dominion  here  does  or  may 
extend,  to  be  managed  and  transacted  only  by  the  freemen, 
being  actual  inhabitants  within  the  said  city,  and  within  the 
now  walks  and  stockades  thereof,  and  not  elsewhere.  And 
I  do  hereby,  for  his  said  Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors, 
absolutely  forbid  and  prohibit  all  and  every  the  inhabitants 
of  the  said  Province  of  New-York,  (the  inhabitants  of  the 
said  city  of  Albany  only  excepted,)  to  trade  or  traffic  with 
any  of  the  five  nations  of  Indians,  called  the  Senekas, 
Cayonges,  Onondages,  Oneydes,  and  Maqueas,  who  live  to 
the  westward,  or  with  any  other  Indian  or  Indians  what- 
soever, within  the  county  of  Albany,  or  to  the  eastward, 
northward,  or  westward  thereof,  so  far  as  his  said  Majesty's 
dominions  here  do  or  may  extend,  or  to  have  or  keep  in 
their  houses  or  elsewhere,  any  Indian  goods  or  merchandize, 
upon  the  pain  and  penalty  of  the  forfeiture  and  confiscation 
of  such  Indian  commodities,  whether  the  same  be  beavers, 
peltry,  or  other  l7idian  commodities  whatsoever,  except 
Indian  corn,  venison,  and  dressed  deer  skins,  to  trade  for, 
and  upon  pain  and  penalty  of  the  forfeiture  and  confiscation 
of  all  such  India?i  goods  and  merchandize,  as  guns,  powder, 
lead,  duffels,  rum,  and  all  other  Indian  goods  and  merchan- 
dize, which  shall  at  any  time  hereafter  be  found,  concealed, 
or  kept  in  any  house  or  place  without  the  walls  of  the  said 
city,  and  within  the  said  county  of  Albany,  and  the  other 
limits  and  boundaries  hereinbefore  set  forth  and  prescribed ; 
and  in  case  any  person  or  jiersons  whatsoever  shall  at  any  time 
hereafter,  out  of  the  walls  of  the  said  city,  and  within  the 
said  county,  or  the  other  limits  and  boundaries  hereinbefore 
set  forth  and  prescribed,  trade  or  traffic  with  any  I?idian  or 
Indians,  for  any  beavers,  peltry,  or  other  Indian  commodi- 
ties, (except  as  before  excepted,)  or  there  shall  conceal  or 
keep  any  Indiati  goods,  wares,  or  merchandize  in  any  house 
or  place  as  aforesaid,  then  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  the 
Mayor,  Recorder,  or  any  of  the  Aldermen  for  the  time 
being,  by  warrant,  under  their  or  any  of  their  hands,  to  cause 
such  Indian  commodities  so  traded  for,  and  such  goods  and 
merchandize  so  kept  and  concealed  without  the  walls  of  the 
said  city,  wheresoever  they  shall  be  found  within  the  said  city 

449 


and  county,  as  without  the  same  within  the  Hmits  and  bound- 
aries before  expressed,  to  be  seized,  and  the  same  to  be  con- 
demned and  confiscated,  in  the  court  of  pleas  or  common 
pleas  in  the  said  city,  or  any  other  court  of  record  within 
the  said  city  or  Province,  one-third  part  to  the  Mayor  of  the 
city  for  the  time  being,  one-third  part  to  such  person  or  per- 
sons as  shall  inform  or  sue  for  the  same,  and  the  other  third 
part  to  the  use  of  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Commonalty 
of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and  their  successors  forever. 
And  also,  that  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  to  and  for  the 
Mayor,  Recorder  and  Aldermen  of  the  said  city  for  the  time 
being,  by  a  warrant  under  their  or  any  of  their  hands  or  seals, 
to  cause  such  person  or  persons,  as  shall  presume  to  trade  or 
traffic  with  the  Indians^  contrary  to  the  form  and  effect  of 
these  presents,  to  be  apprehended  wherever  they  shall  be 
found,  within  the  limits  and  boundaries  hereinbefore  pre- 
scribed, to  answer  the  same  at  the  court  of  pleas  and  com- 
mon pleas  in  the  said  city,  or  any  other  court  of  record 
within  the  said  city  or  Province,  where  being  legally  con- 
victed thereof,  such  person  or  persons,  over  and  besides  the 
forfeiture  and  confiscation  of  such  goods,  merchandize  and 
commodities  as  aforesaid,  shall  be  fineable,  and  fined  in  such 
sum  or  sums  of  money,  (not  exceeding  twenty  pounds  cur- 
rent money  of  this  country,)  as  at  the  discretion  of  such  court, 
before  whom  he  or  they  shall  be  prosecuted,  shall  be  thought 
reasonable  and  convenient ;  which  said  fines  shall  be  one- 
third  part  to  the  person  who  shall  inform  and  prosecute  for 
the  same,  and  the  other  two-thirds  to  the  use  of  the  Mayor, 
Aldermen  and  Commonalty,  and  their  successors  forever. 

30.  And  further,  I  do,  by  these  presents,  for  and  on 
behalf  of  his  said  Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  grant 
and  declare  to  the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty 
of  Albany,  and  their  successors,  that  his  Majesty,  his  heirs 
and  successors,  nor  any  of  his  or  their  Governors,  Lieutenants, 
Commanders-in-Chief  or  other  officers,  shall  not  or  will  not 
from  henceferth  forever  hereafter,  grant  unto  any  person  or 
persons  whatsoever,  any  license  or  licenses  to  hunt  within 
the  said  county  of  Albany,  or  to  the  eastward,  northward  or 
westward,  so  far  as  his  said  Majesty's  dominion  here  doth  or 
may  extend,  without  the  consent  and  approbation  of  the 
Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  said  city  of 
Albany,  for  the  time  being,  by  the  said  person  or  persons 
first  to  be  had  and  obtained. 

450 


31.  And  further,  I  do,  by  these  presents,  for  his  said 
Majesty,  and  his  successors,  grant  to  the  said  Mayor,  Alder- 
men and  Commonalty  of  the  said  city,  that  they  and  their 
successors  be  forever,  persons  able  and  capable,  and  shall 
have  power  to  purchase,  have,  take  and  possess  in  fee  simple, 
lands,  tenements,rents  and  other  possessions,  within  or  with- 
out the  same  city,  to  them  and  their  successors  forever,  so 
as  the  same  exceed  not  the  yearly  value  of  one  thousand 
pounds  per  annum,  the  statute  of  mortmain,  or  any  other 
law  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding ;  and  the  same  lands, 
tenements,  hereditaments  and  premises,  or  any  part  thereof 
to  demise,  grant,  lease,  set  over,  assign  and  dispose  at  their 
own  will  and  pleasure,  and  to  make,  seal  and  accomplish  any 
deed  or  deeds,  lease  or  leases,  evidences  or  writings  for  or 
concerning  the  same  or  any  part  thereof,  which  shall  happen 
to  be  made  and  granted  by  the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and 
Commonalty  of  the  said  city  for  the  time  being 

32.  And  further,  for  and  on  behalf  of  his  said  Majesty, 
his  heirs  and  successors,  I  do,  by  these  presents,  grant  to  the 
said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty,  that  they  and  their 
successors  shall  and  may  forever  hereafter,  hold  and  keep 
within  the  said  city,  in  every  week  in  the  year,  two  market 
days,  the  one  upon  Wednesday,  and  the  other  upon  Satur- 
day, weekly  forever. 

33.  And  also,  I  do  by  these  presents,  for  and  on  behalf 
of  his  said  Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  grant  to  the  said 
Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  said  city,  that 
they  and  their  successors  and  assigns  shall  and  may  at  any  or 
all  times  hereafter,  build  a  public  weigh-house  in  such  part 
of  the  said  city,  as  to  them  shall  seem  convenient;  and 
that  they  the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty 
shall  and  may  receive,  perceive,  and  take  to  their  own  proper 
use  and  behoof  all  and  singular  the  issues  and  profits  there- 
from or  thereby  arising  or  accruing ;  as  also,  that  the  said 
Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  said  city  of 
Albany,  their  heirs  and  successors,  shall  and  may  at  any 
time  or  times  hereafter,  when  it  to  them  shall  seem  fit  and 
convenient,  to  take  in,  fill  and  make  up,  and  lay  out  all  and 
singular  the  grounds  and  lands  within  the  limits  and  precincts 
of  the  said  city,  and  the  same  to  build  upon  and  make  use 
of  in  other  manner  or  way  as  to  them  shall  seem  fit,  as  far 
into  the  river  that  passeth  by  the  same  as  low  water  mark  as 
aforesaid. 


451 


34-  And  further,  for  and  on  behalf  of  his  said  Majesty, 
his  heirs  and  successors,  I  do,  by  these  presents,  give  and 
grant  unto  the  aforesaid  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty 
of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and  their  successors,  that  they 
and  their  successors  shall  and  may  have,  hold  and  keep 
within  the  said  city,  liberties  and  precincts  thereof,  once 
every  fortnight  in  every  year  forever,  upon  Tuesday ,  one 
court  of  common  pleas  for  all  actions  of  debt,  trespass  upon 
the  case,  detinue,  ejectmentj  and  other  personal  actions,  and 
the  same  to  be  held,  before  the  Mayor,  Recorder  and  Alder- 
men, or  any  three  of  them,  (whereof  the  Mayor  or  Recorder 
to  be  one,)  who  shall  have  power  to  hear  and  determine  the 
same  pleas  and  actions,  according  to  the  rules  of  the  common 
law,  acts  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  said  Province,  and 
the  course  of  other  corporations  in  the  like  nature. 

35.  And  further,  for  and  on  the  behalf  of  his  said 
Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  I  do,  by  these  presents, 
give  and  grant  to  the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Common- 
alty of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  their  successors  forever, 
that  the  Mayor  of  the  said  city  for  the  time  being,  shall  and 
may  determine  all  and  all  manner  of  actions,  or  causes 
whatsoever,  to  be  had,  moved  or  depending  between  party 
and  party,  so  always  as  the  same  exceed  not  the  value  of 
forty  shillings,  current  money  of  this  Province. 

36.  And  further,  for  and  on  behalf  of  his  said  Majesty, 
his  heirs  and  successors,  I  do  grant  to  the  said  Mayor, 
Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  said  city,  and  their  suc- 
cessors forever,  that  the  Mayor,  Recorder  and  Aldermen  of 
the  said  city  shall  always  be,  so  long  as  they  shall  continue 
in  their  respective  offices,  Justices  of  the  peace  for  the  said 
county,  and  as  such  shall  and  may  sit  in  the  courts  of  ses- 
sions, or  county  courts,  and  courts  of  oyer  and  terminer,  that 
shall  from  time  to  time  be  held  and  kept  within  the  said 
county;  and  that  the  Mayor,  Recorder,  or  some  one  of  the 
Aldermen  of  the  said  city  for  the  time  being,  shall  and  may 
always  preside  in  or  be  president  of  such  county  courts,  or 
courts  of  sessions,  to  be  held  within  the  said  county  as  afore- 
said, and  that  the  Sheriff  of  the  said  city  for  the  time  being, 
shall  always  be  Sheriff  of  the  said  county  ;  also  that  the 
Town  Clerk  of  the  said  city  for  the  time  being,  shall  always 
be  the  clerk  of  the  peace,  and  Clerk  of  the  court  of  sessions, 
or  county  courts  for  the  said  county. 


452 


37-  And  further,  I  do,  for  and  on  behalf  of  his  said 
Majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  by  these  presents  grant  to 
the  said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  said 
city  of  Albany,  and  their  successors,  that  the  said  Mayor, 
Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  said  city,  and  their  suc- 
cessors, shall  have  and  enjoy  all  the  privileges,  franchises, 
and  power  that  they  have  and  use,  or  that  any  of  their  prede- 
cessors, at  any  time  within  the  space  of  twenty  years  last  past, 
had,  took,  or  enjoyed,  or  sought  to  have  had,  by  reason,  or 
under  pretence  of  any  further  charter,  grant,  prescription, 
or  any  other  right,  custom  or  usage,  although  the  same  have 
been  forfeit  or  lost,  or  hath  been  ill  used,  or  not  used,  or 
abused,  or  discontinued,  albeit  they  be  not  particularly 
therein,  under  any  pretence  whatsoever,  not  only  for  their 
future,  but  the  present  enjoyment  thereof;  Provided 
ALWAYS,  That  the  said  privileges,  franchises  and  powers 
be  not  inconsistent  with,  or  repugnant  to,  the  laws  of  his 
Majesty's  kingdom  of  England  or  other  the  laws  of  the 
General  Assembly  as  aforesaid,  and  saving  to  his  heirs,  suc- 
cessors and  assigns,  and  his  Commanders-in-Chief,  Lieuten- 
ants, Governors  and  other  officers  under  him  or  them  in  his 
Fort  Albany,  in  or  by  the  city  of  Albany,  and  in  all  the 
liberties,  boundaries,  extent  and  privileges  thereof,  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  said  fort  and  garrison  there,  all  the  right, 
use,  title,  and  authority,  which  his  said  Majesty,  or  any  of 
his  said  Commanders-in-Chief,  Lieutenants  and  other  officers 
have  had,  used  or  exercised  here  (excepting  the  said  pasture 
hereinbefore  granted,  or  mentioned  to  be  granted,  to  the 
said  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty  of  the  city  of 
Albany  aforesaid,)  and  saving  to  all  other  persons,  bodies 
politic  and  corporate,  their  heirs,  successors  and  assigns,  all 
such  right,  title  and  claim,  possession,  rents,  services,  com- 
mons, emoluments  and  interests,  of,  in  and  to  anything  that 
is  theirs,  save  only  the  franchises  as  aforesaid,  in  as  ample 
manner  as  if  this  charter  had  not  been  made 

2,^.  And  further,  I  do  appoint  and  declare,  that  the 
incorporation  to  be  founded  by  this  charter  shall  not  at  any 
time  hereafter  do  or  suffer  to  be  done,  any  thing  by  which 
the  lands,  tenements  or  hereditaments,  stock,  goods  or  chat- 
tels thereof,  or  in  the  hands,  custody  or  possession  of  any  of 
the  citizens  of  the  said  city,  such  as  have  been  set,  let,  given, 
granted,  or  collected,  to  and  for  pious  and  charitable  uses, 
shall  be  wasted  or  misemployed,  contrary  to  the   trust  or 

453 


intent  of  the  founder  or  giver  thereof.  And  that  such  and 
no  other  construction  shall  be  made  hereof,  than  that  which 
may  tend  most  to  advance  rehgion,  justice,  and  the  pubUc 
good,  and  to  suppress  all  acts  and  contrivances  to  be  inven- 
ted or  put  in  use  contrary  thereto.  In  witness  whereof,  I 
have  to  these  presents  set  my  hand,  and  thereto  have  affixed 
the  seal  of  the  said  Province,  and  caused  the  same  to  be 
enrolled  in  the  Secretary's  office  of  the  said  Province,  this 
two  and  twentieth  day  of  ynly,  in  the  second  year  of  his 
said  Majesty's  reign,  and  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  eighty-six. 

THOMAS  DONGAN. 


454 


INDEX. 


A 

'■  "^  PAGE. 

Address  by  J.  Howard  King 71 

Address  by  Oren  E.  Wilson 204,   205 

Address  by  Mayor  Jolin  Boyd  Thncher,     71,  89,   205,  300,   301,  342 

343 

Address  by  Robert  F.  Mclntyre 287,   288 

Address  by  Dr.  T.  Bloni  Coster 299 

Address  by  H.  C.   Staats,  High  Priest   of  Momus 324-326 

Address  by  T.  H.  S.  Pennington 286,  287 

Address  by  President  Grover  Cleveland 382 

Address   by  Hon.  William  F.  Bayard 382,  383 

Address  by  Hon.  William  C.  Whitney 383 

Advisory    Committee  created 7 

Advisory  Committee,    list  of 13,     46 

African  M.  E.  Church,  services  at 188,    189 

Albany   Burgesses  Corps 8,     69 

Albany,  first  charter 431—454 

All  Nations'  Day,  programme 252 

All  Nations'  Day,  general  orders 253-257 

All  Nations'  Day  Parade   described 257-271 

All  Nations'  Day  Parade,  first  division 259-261 

All  Nations*  Day  Parade,  second  division 261-263 

All  Nations'  Day   Parade,  third  division 263-265 

All  Nations'   Day  Parade,  fourth  division 265-267 

All  Nations'  Day  Parade,  fifth  division 267-270 

All  Nations'  Day  Parade,  reviewed 271 

Appropriation  in  Tax  Budget 2 

Appropriation  for  Historical  Pageant 39 

Approj^riation  for  Music 40 

Appropriation  for  Engraving  and  Printing 43 

Appropriation  for  Fireworks 45 

Appropriation  for  Monumenting,  etc 45 

Appropriation  for  Reception  Committee 45 

Appropriation  for  Loan  Exhibition 45 

Appropriation  for  Military  Committee 66 

Award  of  Prizes   for  Essays 202-204 

455 


-t*  PACK. 

Bayard,  William  F.,  address  by 382,  383 

Banks,  Mayor  A.  Bleecker,  proclamation  by 2,       3 

Banks,  Mayor  A.  Bleecker,  chosen  chairman 5 

Banks,    Mayor  A .  Bleecker,  resignation 41 

Baptist  Churches,  union  services  of 146-154 

Battershall,  Rev.  Walton  W.,  sermon  of 190,   191 

Bi-Centennial  Card,  described 427-429 

Bi-Centennial  Day,  programme 327,  328 

Bi-Centennial  Day,  general  orders 328,  329 

Bi-Centennial  Day  Parade,  description    of 329-340 

Bi-Centennial  Day  Exercises  at    Rink 340-383 

Bi-Centennial  Flag 39,  57,  61,     66 

Bi-Centennial  Flag.     (See  "  The  Flags  of  Albany.") 

Bi-Centennial    Medal 423-426 

Boss,  Prof.  Lewis,  report  by 14,     17 

Bronze  Memorial  Tablets,  description  of 46,     55 

Bureau  of  Information 12,     45 

c 

Canoe  Races 248-25 1 

Catholic  Church,  services 132--145,   190 

Caughnawaga  Indians,  reception  of 88—91 

Centennial  Celebration  of  1 786,  account  of 5 

Chaplain,  selection  of. 57 

Chajiman,  Rev.  T.  Wilbur,  sermon  of 189 

Children's  Day,  exercises  of 194-252 

Citizens'  Bi-Centennial  Committee,  membership 6 

Citizens'  Bi-Centennial  Committee,  organized 7,      17 

Citizens'  Bi-Centennial  Committee,  minutes  of 7--69 

Citizens'  Meeting 2-6 

City  Gates,  opening  ceremonies 194--198 

City  Gates,  description  of 195,   197 

City   Seals 415--422 

Civic  Day,  programme 297 

Civic  Day  Parade,  general  orders 302-305 

Civic  Day  Parade,  description  of 305-310 

Cleveland,  President  Grover,  letter  of 66 

Cleveland,  President  Grover,  address  by 382 

Cleveland,  President  Grover,  reception  to 387-389 

Clinton  Square  Presbyterian  Church,  services  at 187 

Colored  Societies,  .\11  Nations'  Day 263,  286-288 

456 


PAGE. 

Concert  by  School  Children 25 1,  252 

Coster,  Dr.  T.  Blom,   reception  of 298-301 

Coster,  Dr.  T.  Blom,  address  by 299 

Countermine,  Rev.  T.  D.,  sermon  of 190 

D 

Davidson,  Miss  Elizabeth  G.,  prize  essay  by 207-219 

Decorations  and  Monumenting,  reports  on 43 

De  Leon,  F.   C 8,27,     28 

Demorest,  Rev.  David  D.,  sermon  of 107- 132 

Derrick,  Rev.  Israel,  sermon  of. 188,   189 

Devotional  Day,  account  of  exercises 91-194 

Dickson,  Walter,  resolution  of  thanks  to 68 

Doane,  Rt.  Rev.  William  Croswell,  selected  as  chaplain 57 

Doane,  Rt.  Rev.  William  Croswell,  sermon  by 133-145 

Dongan  Charter 431-454 

E 

Educational  Day,  reports  from  Board  of  Public  Instruction 28 

Educational  Day,  exercises  on 194-252 

Episcopal  Churches,  union  services  of 132-145,   190 

Essays 207-224 

F 

First  Baptist  Church,  union  services  at 146-154 

First  Detailed  Programme  for  Celebration 18- 25 

First  Lutheran  Church,  services    at 178-186 

First  Methodist  Church,  union  services  at 168,  178,    192 

First  Official  Action I 

First  Reformed  Church,  services  at 189 

First  Report  of  Plan  of  Celebration 17 

Flags  of  Albany 401--414 

Floats  described, 316—324 

Former  Celebrations,  account  of 14  -  17 

Fort  Orange  Club,  reception  by 389-392 

Foster,  Rev.  Albert,  sermon  of 146-154 

French  Citizens,  All  Nations'  Day 261-263 

G 

German  Societies,  All  Nations'  Day 267--270,  284,  285 

Grant  Club,  All  Nations'  Day 265,  266- 

457 


'^  PAGE 

Hill,  Governor  David  B. ,  selected  as  orator 40 

Hill,  Governor  David  B.,  review  of  trades  parade 247 

Hill,  Governor  David  B.,  review  of  All  Nations'  parade 271 

Hill,  Governor  David  B.,  Bi-Centennial  oration  by 350—382 

Historical  Pageant 27,  28,29,  3°  "39 

Historical  Pageant,  general  orders 314,  315 

Historical  Pageant,   divisions  and  officers 315,  316 

Historical  Pageant,  description    of  floats  and  parade 316-324 

Historical  Tableaux,  school  festival 199-202 

Hodgson,  George  L.,  prize  essay  by 219-224 

Holland,  Envoys  from,  reception  of,  etc 298-301 

Hollanders'  division.  All  Nations' Day 259-261 

Holmes,  Rev.    Dr.,  sermon  of 187--188 

Huntington,  Rev.  Dr.  E.  A.,  sermon  of 187 

Hurlbut,  Rev.  Merritt,  sermon  of 1 70-- 178 

I 
Invitations  to  Schools 46 

Irish  Societies,  All  Nations'   Day, 263-265,  272-284 

Italian  Citizens,  All  Nations'  Day 270,  271 

J 
Jackson  Corps 69,  97,   105 

Jewish  Synagogue,  Beth-Emeth,  religious  services  in 91-95 

Jewish  Synagogue,  Beth-El-Jacob,  religious  services  in 193 

K 

King,  J.  Howard,  address  by 71 

Kip,  Leonard,  oration  at  Loan  Exhibition 78-86 

L 

Legislative  Committee,  address  by 67 

Legislative  Re-union 3^3~3^7 

List  of  Subscribers  to  Bi-Centennial  Fund 395— 400 

Loan  Exhibition,  committee  to  report  on 17 

Loan  Exhibition,  communication  suggesting 17,      18 

Loan  Exhibition,    committee  on 26,     27 

Loan  Exhibition,  opening  exercises 69--86 

Loan  Exhibition,  managers  of. 86--88 

Local  Organizations,  represented 4 

Lyons,  Aid.  James,  resolution  for  celebration  by I 


^  PAGE. 

Medal  of  the  Bi-Centennial 423—426 

Madison  Avenue  Reformed  Church,  services  at 106-132 

Manufacturers'  Day,  exercises  ot 194-252 

McElroy,  William  H.,  Bi-Centennial  Poem  by 343-350 

Mclntyre,  Robert  F.,  address  before  Colored  societies 287-288 

Methodist  Churches,  union  services  of. 168-178 

Military  Mass,  account  of. 96-106 

Miller,  Rev.  George  W.,  sermon  of. 1 79-1 86 

Morange,  William  D. ,  poem  by 73-78 

Municipal  Reception 387-3S9 

Mystic  Order  of  Momus,  midnight  parade  by 324-327 

N 
National  Association  of  Amateur  Oarsmen,  27,  29,  290,  295,  310,  313 

o 

Opening  the  City's  Gates,  ceremonies  at 194-198 

Oration  of  Leonard  Kip 78-86 

Oration  of  Hugh  Reilly 273-283 

Oration  of  Gov.  David  B.  Hill,  Bi-Centennial  Day 350-382 

Orator,   selection  of 40 

Orator,  medal  for 61 

P 
Parade  of  Manufacturers,  Tradesmen  and   Mechanics  and  names 

of  participants 224-248 

Parade  of  Mystic  Order  of  Momus 324-327 

Parade  of  Secret  Societies 295-297 

Parade  of  All  Nations 252-272 

Pennington,  T.  H.  S.,  address  before  Colored  societies 286,  287 

Poem,  by  William  H.  McElroy,    Bi-Centennial  Day 343-350 

Poem,  by  William  D.  Morange,  Loan  Exhibition 73-78 

Poet,  selection  of 40 

Poet,  medal  for 61 

Prayer,  by  Rev.  T.  Livingston   Reese 199 

Player,   Bi-Centennial   Exercises,   of  Rt.  Rev.  W.  C.  Doane 341 

Presbyterian  Churches,  union  services  of. 154-168,    187 

Prize  Essays,  conditions,  etc 29 

Prize  Essays 207--224 

Proclamation  for  Celebration 2,       3 

Proclamation  of  Opening  Exercises 63-65 

Proclamation   of  Opening  City  Gates 196,    197 

Pyrotechnic   Display 393,   394 

459 


-'^  PAGE. 

Reese,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  Livingston,  prayer  by 199 

Reformed  Churches,  union  services  of 106-132,   189 

Regatta,  account  of 27,  29,  290-295,310-313 

Reilly  Hugh,  oration  before  Irish  Societies 273-283 

Religious  Services,  report  upon 56 

Reply  to  Invitation,  from  officials  of  Antwerp 40 

Reply  to  Invitation,  from  Mayor  of  London 42 

Reply  to  Invitation,  from  Lieutenant-Governor 43 

Reply  to  Invitation,  from  officials  of  Amsterdam 46 

Reply  to  Invitation,  from  officials  of  The  Hague 56,  61 

Reply  to  Invitation,  from  R.  A.  Maxwell 62 

Reply  to  Invitation,  from  N.  Y.  Holland  Society 62 

Reply  to  Invitation,  from  Samuel  J.  Tilden 68 

Resolution  of  Common  Council  to  Celebrate i 

s 

Schlesinger,  Rabbi,    sermon  of- 93-95 

School  Children's  Festival,  exercises  at 198—224 

Schubert  Club 17 

Schuyler,  Peter,  portrait  of 61 

Scottish  Games,  All  Nations'  Day 288—290 

Seals  of  Albany 415—422 

Secret  Societies,  parade  by 295.-297 

Sermon  by  Rev.  Walter  W.   Battershall 190— 191 

Sermon  by  Rev.  J.  Wilbur  Chapman 1 89 

Sermon  by  Rev.  J.  D.  Countermine 190 

Sermon  by  Rev.  David  D.  Demorest 107—132 

Sermon  by  Rev.  Isarel  Derrick 188,    189 

Sermon  by  Rt.  Rev.  William  C.  Doane 133--145 

Sermon  by  Rev.  Albert  Foster 146-154 

Sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.  Holmes 187,   188 

Sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.  E.  A.  Huntington 187 

Sermon  by  Rev.    Merritt  Hurlbut 170—178 

Sermon  by  Rev.  George  W.  Miller 179-186 

Sermon  by  Rabbi  Schlesinger 93"95 

Sermon  by  Rev.  Horace  C.  Stanton 155-168 

Sermon  by  Rev.  H.  A.  Starks 192 

Sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.  C.  H.  W.   Stocking 193 

Sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.  Mark  Trafton 168- 1 70 

Sermon  by  Rev.  Clarence  Walworth 98—105 

Sixth  Presbyterian  Church,  services  at 190 

Staats,  H.  C. ,  address  by 324—326 

Stanton,  Rev.   Horace  C,  sermon  by 155—168 

460 


PAGE. 

Starks,  Rev.  H.  A.,  sermon  of 192 

State  Officials,  invitation  to 39 

State  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  union  services  at 154--168 

St.  Mary's  Church,  rehgious  services  in 96-- 106 

St.  Peter's  Church,  services  at 132-145,   190 

Stocking,  Rev.  Dr.  C.  H.  W.,  sermon  of 193 

Subscribers  to  Bi-Centennial  Fund 395—400 

Subscriptions 8,  28,  66 

Sub-Committees,  Hst  of 8,  14,  23,  26,  27,  42,  45 

T 

Thacher,  Mayor  John  Boyd,  elected  chairman 41 

Thacher,  Mayor  John  Boyd,  address  by,  71-73,  89,  205,  300,  301,  342, 

343 

Tilden,  Samuel  J.,  letter  of. 68 

The  City  Seals  of  Albany 415-422 

The  Flags  of  Albany 401-414 

Trades  Day,  exercises  of I94—  252 

Trafton,  Rev.  Dr.  Mark,  sermon  of 168- 1 70 

Trinity  Episcopal  Church,  services  at 192,   193 

u 

Unveiling  of  Bronze  Tablets 248 

V 
Van  Ness,  Edward,  letter  of 66 

W 

Walworth,  Rev.  Clarence,  sermon  of 98—105 

Whitney,  William  C,  address  by 383 

Wilson,  Oren  E. ,  address  by 204,  205 


461 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 

This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


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Form  L9-32m-8,'58(5876s4)444 


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